The Father Warns: Flee Jerusalem
6 1 Run for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms out of the north, a great destruction. 2 The lovely and delicate daughter of Zion — I will destroy her. 3 Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each grazing his own portion. 4 Prepare for battle against her! Come, let us attack at noon! But woe to us, for the day is fading and the evening shadows are growing long. 5 Come, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!
6 For the Father of heaven's armies says: Cut down her trees and build a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her. 7 As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps her wickedness fresh. Violence and destruction resound within her; sickness and wounds are always before me. 8 Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you in disgust and make you a desolation, a land where no one lives.
9 The Father of heaven's armies says: They will glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine is gleaned. Pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes. 10 To whom can I speak and give warning, that they will listen? Their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. The word of our Father is offensive to them; they take no delight in it. 11 But I am full of the wrath of our Father; I am weary of holding it in. Pour it out on the children in the street, on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be taken, the old and the very aged. 12 Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against those who live in the land, declares our Father.
13 For from the least to the greatest, all are greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they had no shame at all; they did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them, says our Father.
16 This is what our Father says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'
18 Therefore hear, you nations; take note, you witnesses, what will happen to them. 19 Listen, earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my instruction. 20 What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.
21 Therefore this is what our Father says: I will put obstacles before this people. Parents and children alike will stumble over them; neighbors and friends will perish.
22 This is what our Father says: Look, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirring from the ends of the earth. 23 They grasp bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy. Their sound roars like the sea as they ride on horseback, drawn up in battle formation against you, daughter of Zion.
24 We have heard the report of them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor. 25 Do not go out to the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword, and terror is on every side. 26 Daughter of my people, put on mourning clothes and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us. 27 I have made you a tester of metals among my people, so that you may observe and test their ways. 28 They are all hardened rebels, going around spreading slander. They are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly. 29 The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining is useless; the wicked are not removed. 30 They are called rejected silver, because our Father has rejected them.