## Yahweh Disciplines Israel ###### 1 "Flee for safety, O sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem! Now blow a trumpet in Tekoa And raise a signal over Beth-haccerem, For evil looks down from the north, As well as great destruction. ###### 2 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, I will ruin. ###### 3 Shepherds and their flocks will come to her; They will pitch _their_ tents around her; They will pasture each in his place. ###### 4 Set _yourselves_ apart for war against her; Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day declines, For the shadows of the evening stretch out! ###### 5 Arise, and let us go up by night And destroy her palaces!" ###### 6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, "Cut down her trees And cast up a siege against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is only oppression. ###### 7 Like a well keeps its waters fresh, So she keeps fresh her evil. Violence and devastation are heard in her; Sickness and wounds are continually before Me. ###### 8 Heed discipline, O Jerusalem, Lest My soul become disgusted at you, Lest I make you a desolation, A land not inhabited." ###### 9 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "They will thoroughly glean as the vine the remnant of Israel; Pass your hand again like a grape gatherer Over the branches." ###### 10 To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of Yahweh has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. ###### 11 But I am full of the wrath of Yahweh; I am weary of holding _it_ in. "Pour _it_ out on the infants in the street And on the gathering of choice men together; For both husband and wife shall be captured, The aged with _the one_ full of days. ###### 12 Their houses shall be turned over to others, Their fields and their wives together, For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," declares Yahweh. ###### 13 "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for gain, And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone practices lying. ###### 14 They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. ###### 15 Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to feel dishonor. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says Yahweh. ###### 16 Thus says Yahweh, "Stand by the ways and see and 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 And I set watchmen over you, _saying_, 'Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not give heed.' ###### 18 Therefore hear, O nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. ###### 19 Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing evil on this people, The fruit of their plans, Because they have not given heed to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also. ###### 20 For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me." ###### 21 Therefore, thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I am laying stumbling blocks before this people. And they will stumble against them, Fathers and sons together; Neighbor and friend will perish." ## Mourn the Coming Destroyer ###### 22 Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, a people is coming from the land of the north, And a great nation will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth. ###### 23 They take hold of bow and spear; They are cruel and have no compassion; Their voice roars like the sea, And they ride on horses, Arranged as a man for the battle Against you, O daughter of Zion!" ###### 24 We have heard the report of it; Our hands are limp. Distress has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in childbirth. ###### 25 Do not go out into the field And do not walk on the road, For the enemy has a sword; Terror is on every side. ###### 26 O daughter of my people, gird yourself with sackcloth And roll in ashes; Mourn as for an only son, A lamentation most bitter. For suddenly the destroyer Will come upon us. ###### 27 "I have made you a tester _of metals and_ an assayer among My people, That you may know and test their way." ###### 28 All of them are rebelliously stubborn, Going about as a slanderer. _They are_ bronze and iron; They, all of them, are corrupt. ###### 29 The bellows blow fiercely; The lead is consumed by the fire; In vain the refining goes on, But the evil ones are not separated. ###### 30 They call them rejected silver Because Yahweh has rejected them.