1“Strengthen yourselves, sons of Benjamin, "" From the midst of Jerusalem, "" And blow a horn in Tekoa, "" And lift up a flame over Beth-Haccerem, "" For evil has been seen from the north, "" And great destruction.

2I have cut off the lovely and delicate one, "" The daughter of Zion.

3Shepherds and their droves come to her, "" They have struck tents by her all around, "" They have each fed [in] his own station.”

4“Sanctify the battle against her, "" Rise, and we go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day has turned, "" For the shades of evening are stretched out,

5Rise, and we go up by night, "" And we destroy her palaces.”

6For thus said YHWH of Hosts: “Cut down her wood, "" And pour out a mound against Jerusalem, "" She [is] the city to be inspected, "" She [is] full of oppression in her midst.

7As the digging of a well, is [for] its waters, "" So she has dug [for] her wickedness, "" Violence and spoil is heard in her, "" Sickness and striking [are] continually before My face.

8Be instructed, O Jerusalem, "" Lest My soul be alienated from you, "" Lest I make you a desolation, "" A land [that is] not inhabited.”

9Thus said YHWH of Hosts: “They surely glean, as a vine, the remnant of Israel, "" Put your hand back, as a gatherer to the baskets.”

10To whom do I speak, and testify, and they hear? Behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, "" And they are not able to attend. Behold, a word of YHWH has been to them for a reproach, "" They do not delight in it.

11And I have been filled with the fury of YHWH "" (I have been weary of containing), “To pour [it] on the suckling in the street, "" And on the assembly of youths together, "" For even husband with wife are captured, "" [The] elderly with one full of days,

12And their houses have been turned to others, "" Fields and wives together, "" For I stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” "" A declaration of YHWH.

13“For from their least to their greatest, "" Everyone is gaining dishonest gain, "" And from prophet even to priest, "" Everyone is dealing falsely,

14And they heal the breach of the daughter of My people slightly, "" Saying, Peace, peace! And there is no peace.

15They were ashamed when they did abomination! Indeed, they are not at all ashamed, "" Indeed, they have not known blushing, "" Therefore they fall among those falling, "" In the time I have inspected them, "" They stumble,” said YHWH.

16Thus said YHWH: “Stand by the ways and see, and ask for paths of old, "" Where [is] this—the good way? And go in it, "" And find rest for yourselves. And they say, We do not go.

17And I have raised up watchmen for you, "" Attend to the voice of the horn. And they say, We do not attend.

18Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, "" That which [is] on them.

19Hear, O earth, behold, I am bringing evil on this people, "" The fruit of their plans, "" For they gave no attention to My words, "" And My law—they kick against it.

20Why [is] this to Me? Frankincense comes from Sheba, "" And the sweet cane from a far-off land, "" Your burnt-offerings [are] not for acceptance, "" And your sacrifices have not been sweet to Me.”

21Therefore, thus said YHWH: “Behold, I give stumbling blocks to this people, "" And fathers and sons have stumbled against them together, "" The neighbor and his friend perish.”

22Thus said YHWH: “Behold, a people has come from a north country, "" And a great nation is stirred up from the sides of the earth.

23They take hold of bow and javelin, "" It [is] fierce, and they have no mercy, "" Their voice sounds as a sea, "" And they ride on horses, "" Set in array as a man of war, "" Against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24We have heard its sound, our hands have been feeble, "" Distress has seized us, pain as of a travailing woman.

25Do not go forth to the field, "" And do not walk in the way, "" For the enemy has a sword, "" Fear [is] all around.

26O daughter of my people, "" Gird on sackcloth, "" And roll yourself in ashes, "" Make mourning [as for] an only one, "" A most bitter lamentation, "" For the spoiler suddenly comes against us.

27“I have given you a watchtower, "" A fortress among My people, "" And you know, and have tried their way.

28All of them are turned aside by apostates, "" Walking slanderously—bronze and iron, "" All of them are corrupters.

29The bellows have been burned, "" The lead has been consumed by fire, "" A refiner has refined in vain, "" And the wicked have not been drawn away.

30They have called them rejected silver, "" For YHWH has kicked against them!”