Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁸ You took us like a grapevine dug from the soil of Egypt;
    You forced out the nations and transplanted it in Your land.
⁹ You groomed the ground around it,
    planted it so it would root deep into the earth, and it covered all the land.
¹⁰ As it grew, the mountains were blanketed by its shadow;
    the mighty cedars were covered by its branches.
¹¹ The plant extended its branches to the Mediterranean Sea,
    and spread its shoots all the way to the Euphrates River.
¹² God, why have You pulled down the wall that protected it
    so that everyone who wanders by can pick its sweet grapes?
¹³ The wild boar of the forest eats it all,
    and the creatures of the field feast upon it.

¹⁴ O God, Commander of heaven’s armies, come back to us.
    Gaze down from heaven and see what has happened.
Keep watch over this vine, and nourish it.
¹⁵ Look after the saplings which You planted with Your own right hand,
    the child whom You have raised and nurtured for Yourself.

6 Eternal One (to His people): Run away, people of Benjamin,
        and take refuge anywhere but Jerusalem.
    You’re not safe inside those walls.
        From the village of Tekoa, blow the trumpet, sound the alarm.
    Light the warning fires above Beth-haccerem across the land.
        For evil peers down; a dark army of destruction is gathering in the north.
²     I will destroy Jerusalem,
        beautiful and delicate daughter of Zion.
³     As shepherds come and surround her with flocks of hungry sheep,
        so their enemies will gather their troops around you, set up camp,
    And feed off your land as they see fit.
⁴     “Get ready for the battle,” they cry.
        “Come on, let’s attack. It’s already noon!
    But look, the day is half over—
        the shadows are growing longer.
⁵     So arise, let us launch our attack at night.
        The palaces will fall in the darkness!”

Eternal One: Cut down her trees—make battering rams and siege ramps—
        for Jerusalem will soon be under attack.
    Swarm over those walls, you invading hoards,
        and punish My Jerusalem, the city of oppression.
⁷     Like fresh water from a well,
        fresh wickedness flows from deep inside of her.
    Sounds of cruelty and destruction rumble through this city;
        her wounds are always before Me.
⁸     Take Me seriously, O Jerusalem; this warning is for you!
        Listen to My words and turn away from evil
    Or I will turn away from you in disgust.
        I will turn you into a land so barren that no one would dare to live there.

Eternal One: The enemy will pass over the remnant of Israel again and glean what is left,
        like the worker who checks the vine again for any missed grapes.

¹⁰ To whom should I speak and give this warning?
    Who will listen to what I say?
Their ears are closed; they cannot hear. They’re deaf to anything about God.
    The Eternal’s word is offensive to them. They take no delight in it.