Jeremiah 6:1-30 KJ21

[1] "O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem! And blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem! For evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. [2] I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. [3] The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place." [4] "Prepare ye war against her! Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! For the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. [5] Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces." [6] For thus hath the LORD of hosts said: "Hew ye down trees, and cast a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. [7] As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness. Violence and spoil are heard in her; before Me continually are grief and wounds. [8] Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited." [9] Thus saith the LORD of hosts: "They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine; turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets." [10] To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken; behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. [11] Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in. "I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. [12] And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together; for I will stretch out My hand upon the inhabitants of the land," saith the LORD. [13] "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. [14] They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightingly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. [15] Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down," saith the LORD. [16] Thus saith the LORD: "Stand ye in the highways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk therein.' [17] Also I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Hearken to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not hearken.' [18] Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. [19] Hear, O earth: Behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words nor to My law, but rejected it. [20] To what purpose cometh there to Me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto Me." [21] Therefore thus saith the LORD: "Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish." [22] Thus saith the LORD: "Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. [23] They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel and have no mercy. Their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion." [24] We have heard the fame thereof; our hands wax feeble. Anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain as of a woman in travail. [25] Go not forth into the field nor walk by the way, for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. [26] O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes. Make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the despoiler shall suddenly come upon us. [27] "I have set thee as a tower and a fortress among My people, that thou mayest know and try their way. [28] They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders; they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. [29] The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; the founder melteth in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away. [30] Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them."