Jeremiah 6

Be strong, O sons of Beniamin, out of the midst of Ierousalem; sound the trumpet in Thekoue, and lift up a signal over Baithacharma; for evils have peered out from the north, and a great destruction is taking place.

And your height shall be taken away, O daughter of Sion.

Shepherds and their flocks shall come to her, and they shall pitch tents against her round about, and each shall shepherd with his own hand.

Prepare yourselves for war against her; arise, and let us go up against her at midday. Woe to us, for the day has declined, for the shadows of evening are fading.

Arise, and let us go up in the night, and let us destroy her foundations.

For thus says the Lord: Cut down her trees; pour out a force against Ierousalem. O false city, all oppression is in her.

As a cistern keeps its water cold, so she keeps her wickedness cold; ungodliness and misery are heard in her, before her face continually, with pain and scourging.

Be disciplined, O Ierousalem, lest my soul withdraw from you, lest I make you a trackless land that shall not be inhabited.

For thus says the Lord: Glean, glean the remnant of Israel like a vine; turn back like one who gathers grapes to his basket.

To whom shall I speak and testify, that he may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; they will not be willing to hear it.

And I filled up my wrath, and I held back and did not make a full end of them. I will pour it out on the infants outside and on the gathering of young men together; for both man and woman shall be taken, the elder with him who is full of days.

And their houses shall pass over to others, their fields and their wives likewise; for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of this land, says the Lord.

For from the least of them even to the greatest, all have committed lawless deeds; from priest even to false prophet, all have practiced falsehood.

And they healed the breaking of my people slightingly, saying, Peace, peace! And where is peace?

They were put to shame because they failed, yet not even so, being ashamed, were they ashamed, and they did not know their own dishonor. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall, and in the time of their visitation they shall perish, said the Lord.

Thus says the Lord: Stand on the ways and look, and ask for the eternal paths of the Lord, and see which is the good way, and walk in it, and you will find purification for your souls. But they said, We will not go.

I have set watchmen over you: Listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not listen.

Therefore the nations heard, and those who shepherd their flocks.

Hear, O earth! Behold, I am bringing evils upon this people, the fruit of their turning away, because they did not attend to my words and rejected my law.

Why do you bring me frankincense from Saba and cinnamon from a distant land? Your whole burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices have not been pleasing to me.

Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I am putting weakness upon this people, and they shall be weakened by it, fathers and sons together; a neighbor and his companion shall perish.

Thus says the Lord: Behold, a people is coming from the north, and nations shall be roused from the end of the earth.

They will grasp bow and javelin; it is ruthless and will show no mercy; its voice is like a surging sea. On horses and chariots it will array itself like fire for war against you, O daughter of Sion.

We have heard the report of them; our hands went slack; anguish took hold of us, pangs as of a woman in labor.

Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the roads; for the sword of the enemies lodges round about.

O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, sprinkle yourself with ashes; make for yourself the mourning of a beloved one, a piteous wailing; for misery will come upon you suddenly.

I have made you a tester among peoples that are tested, and you shall know me when I test their way.

All are disobedient, walking crookedly; bronze and iron, all of them are corrupt.

The bellows failed away from the fire, the lead gave out; the silversmith refines silver in vain, for their wickedness was not melted away.

Call them rejected silver, for the Lord has rejected them.