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

The Invaders from the North

22 This is what the Lord says:
“Look, people are coming from a northern country.
    A great nation is stirring from the ends of the earth.
23 They grab bow and spear;
    they’re cruel and show no mercy.
Their sound roars like the sea
    as they ride on horses,
deployed like men ready for battle
    against you, daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard the news about it,
    and our hands are limp.
Distress has seized us
    like a woman in labor.
25 Don’t go out into the field,
    and don’t travel on the road,
because the enemy has a sword,
    and terror is on every side.
26 Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth
    and roll in ashes.
Mourn with bitter wailing,
    as one mourns at the death of[a] an only son.
For the destroyer will come on us suddenly.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:26 The Heb. lacks at the death of