The Enemy from the North

22 This is what the Lord says:
“Behold, there is (A)a people coming from the north land,
And a great nation will be stirred up from the (B)remote parts of the earth.
23 They seize (C)bow and spear;
They are (D)cruel and have no mercy;
Their voice (E)roars like the sea,
And they ride on horses,
Lined up as a man for the battle
Against you, daughter of Zion!”
24 We have (F)heard the report of it;
Our hands are limp.
(G)Anguish has seized us,
Pain like that of a woman in childbirth.
25 (H)Do not go out into the field,
And (I)do not walk on the road;
For the enemy has a sword,
(J)Terror is on every side.
26 Daughter of my people, (K)put on sackcloth
And (L)roll in ashes;
[a](M)Mourn as for an only son,
A most bitter mourning.
For suddenly the destroyer
Will come against us.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:26 Lit Make for yourself mourning

Panic-stricken Zion

22 The Lord proclaims:
An army is on the move
        from the northern regions;
    a great nation is roused
        from the ends of the earth.
23 Equipped with bow and spear,
    they are cruel;
    they show no mercy.
Their horsemen sound
    like the roaring sea,
        arrayed in battle formation
        against you, Daughter Zion.
24 We have heard reports of them
    and are panic-stricken;
    distress overwhelms us,
        pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 Don’t go out into the field!
    Don’t walk on the road!
        The enemies’ sword
            terrorizes at every turn.
26 My people,
    put on funeral clothes and roll in ashes;
    weep and wail as for an only child,
        because the destroyer will suddenly descend upon us.

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