1
Seek refuge, sons of Binyamin, from the midst of Yerushalayim. Blow the shofar in Teqoa, and raise a fire-signal over Beyt-Hakkerem, for evil looks down from the north, and a great fracture.
2
I shall cut off the beautiful and delicate one, the daughter of Tziyon.
3
Shepherds and their flocks shall come to her. They shall pitch their tents against her all around; each shall feed in his place.
4
“Set apart battle against her. Rise, and let us ascend at midday.” “Woe to us, for the day turns away, for the shadows of evening grow long.”
5
“Rise, and let us ascend by night and destroy her palaces.”
6
For thus says Yahuah of Hosts: “Cut down trees and pour out a siege mound against Yerushalayim. This is the city to be visited; all of her is oppression in her midst.
7
As a well keeps its waters fresh, so she keeps her evil fresh. Violence and destruction are heard in her; sickness and wounds are continually before My face.
8
Receive correction, Yerushalayim, lest My being be torn away from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.”
9
Thus says Yahuah of Hosts: “Gleaning, they shall glean the remnant of Yisra’el like a vine. Return your hand like a grape-gatherer over the branches.”
10
To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? See, their ear is uncircumcised, and they are unable to listen. See, the Word of Yahuah has become a reproach to them; they do not delight in it.
11
Therefore I am full of the fury of Yahuah; I am weary of containing it. “Pour it upon the child in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together. For even ish with ishah shall be captured, the elder with one full of days.
12
Their houses shall be turned over to others, fields and wives together. For I shall stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares Yahuah.
13
“For from their smallest even to their greatest, every one cuts gain; and from prophet even to Kohen, every one does falsehood.
14
And they heal the fracture of the daughter of My people lightly, saying, ‘Shalom, shalom,’ when there is no shalom.
15
Were they ashamed when they did an abomination? They were not ashamed at all; they did not even know how to be humiliated. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I visit them, they shall stumble,” says Yahuah.
16
Thus says Yahuah: “Stand by the ways and see. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good Way is, and walk in it; and find rest for your beings.” But they said, “We shall not walk in it.”
17
“And I raised watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the voice of the shofar.’” But they said, “We shall not listen.”
18
Therefore hear, nations; and know, assembly, what is among them.
19
Hear, earth. See, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they did not listen to My Words, and My Torah—they rejected it.
20
Why is this frankincense from Sheva brought to Me, and the good cane from a distant land? Your ascending offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.
21
Therefore thus says Yahuah: “See, I am placing stumbling blocks before this people, and fathers and sons together shall stumble upon them; neighbor and companion shall perish.”
22
Thus says Yahuah: “See, a people comes from the land of the north, and a great nation is awakened from the farthest parts of the earth.
23
They hold bow and javelin. They are cruel and have no compassion. Their voice roars like the sea, and upon horses they ride, arranged as an ish for battle against you, daughter of Tziyon.”
24
We have heard its report; our hands have fallen slack. Distress has seized us, writhing like one laboring in birth.
25
Do not go out into the field, and do not walk in the way, for the sword of the enemy is there— terror all around.
26
Daughter of my people, bind on sackcloth and roll yourself in ashes. Make mourning as for an only son, a bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer shall come upon us.
27
“I appointed you as an assayer among My people, a fortified tower, that you may know and assay their Way.
28
All of them are stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. Bronze and iron— all of them are destroyers.
29
The bellows burns; the lead is consumed by fire. In vain the refiner refines, for the evil ones are not separated.
30
Rejected silver they shall call them, for Yahuah has rejected them.”