The Coming Destruction of Jerusalem

“Flee to safety, you sons of (A)Benjamin,
From the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow a trumpet in Tekoa
And raise a warning signal over [a](B)Beth-haccerem;
For evil looks down from the (C)north,
Along with a great destruction.
The beautiful and (D)delicate one, (E)the daughter of Zion, I will destroy.
(F)Shepherds and their flocks will come to her,
They will (G)pitch their tents [b]around her,
They will pasture, each in his [c]place.
[d](H)Prepare for war against her;
Arise, and let’s [e]attack at (I)noon.
Woe to us, for the day declines,
For the shadows of the evening lengthen!
Arise, and let’s [f]attack by night
And (J)destroy her [g]palaces!’”
For this is what the Lord of armies says:
(K)Cut down her trees
And pile up an (L)assault ramp against Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished,
In whose midst there is only (M)oppression.
(N)As a well [h]keeps its waters fresh,
So she [i]keeps fresh her wickedness.
(O)Violence and destruction are heard in her;
(P)Sickness and wounds are constantly before Me.
(Q)Be warned, Jerusalem,
Or [j](R)I shall be alienated from you,
And make you a desolation,
An uninhabited land.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:1 I.e., house of the vineyard
  2. Jeremiah 6:3 Lit against her round about
  3. Jeremiah 6:3 Lit hand
  4. Jeremiah 6:4 Lit Sanctify war
  5. Jeremiah 6:4 Lit go up
  6. Jeremiah 6:5 Lit go up
  7. Jeremiah 6:5 Or fortified towers
  8. Jeremiah 6:7 Lit keeps cold
  9. Jeremiah 6:7 Lit keeps cold
  10. Jeremiah 6:8 Lit my soul

Impending Disaster for Jerusalem

Flee for safety, (A)O people of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in (B)Tekoa,
    and raise a signal on (C)Beth-haccherem,
for disaster looms (D)out of the north,
    and great destruction.
The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy,
    (E)the daughter of Zion.[a]
(F)Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her;
    (G)they shall pitch their tents around her;
    they shall pasture, each in his place.
(H)“Prepare war against her;
    arise, and let us attack (I)at noon!
Woe to us, for the day declines,
    for the shadows of evening lengthen!
Arise, and let us attack by night
    and destroy her palaces!”

For thus says the Lord of hosts:
(J)“Cut down her trees;
    (K)cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be (L)punished;
    there is nothing but oppression within her.
(M)As a well keeps its water fresh,
    so she keeps fresh her evil;
(N)violence and destruction are heard within her;
    sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    (O)lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you (P)a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:2 Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture