Threatened Siege of Jerusalem
out of Jerusalem, Benjaminites.
even a crushing blow.
2Though she is beautiful and delicate,
I will destroy6:2 Or silence Daughter Zion.
3Shepherds and their flocks will come against her;
they will pitch their tents all around her.6:3 Jr 4:17
Each will pasture his own portion.
rise up, let’s attack at noon.
Woe to us, for the day is passing;
the evening shadows grow long.
5Rise up, let’s attack by night.
Let’s destroy her fortresses.”
6For this is what the Lord of Armies says:
Cut down the trees;6:6 Dt 20:19–20
raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished.
There is nothing but oppression within her.6:6 Is 30:12; 59:9–15; Jr 22:17; Ezk 22:7,12,29; Am 3:9; Hab 1:3
7As a well gushes out its water,
so she pours out her evil.6:7 Or well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps her evil fresh
Sickness and wounds keep coming to my attention.
8Be warned, Jerusalem,
I will make you a desolation,
Wrath on Israel
9This is what the Lord of Armies says:
as thoroughly as a vine.
Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer
over the branches.
10Who can I speak to and give such a warning6:10 Or and bear witness
that they will listen?
Look, their ear is uncircumcised,6:10 They are unresponsive to God.6:10 Lv 26:41; Jr 9:26; Ezk 44:7,9
so they cannot pay attention.
See, the word of the Lord has become contemptible to them —
11But I am full of the Lord’s wrath;
Pour it out on the children in the street,6:11 Jr 9:21
on the gathering of young men as well.
For both husband and wife will be captured,
the old with the very old.6:11 Lit with fullness of days
12Their houses will be turned over to others,6:12 Jr 8:10–12
their fields and wives as well,
against the inhabitants of the land.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
From prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.6:13 Jr 5:31; 8:10; 14:14; 20:6; 23:14,25–26,32; 27:10,14–16; 28:15; 29:9,21,31; Lm 2:14; Zch 13:3
14They have treated my people’s brokenness superficially,
when there is no peace.
15Were they ashamed when they acted so detestably?
They weren’t at all ashamed.
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
When I punish them, they will collapse,6:13–15 Jr 8:10–12
says the Lord.
Disaster because of Disobedience
16This is what the Lord says:
Stand by the roadways and look.
“Which is the way to what is good?”
Then take it
and find rest for yourselves.6:16 Mt 11:29
But they protested, “We won’t!”
and said, “Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.”
But they protested, “We won’t listen!”
18Therefore listen, you nations
and you witnesses,
learn what the charge is against them.
19Listen, earth!
I am about to bring disaster on these people,
the fruit of their own plotting,6:19 Pr 1:31
for they have paid no attention to my words.
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please me.6:20 Ps 40:6; Is 1:11; 43:23; 66:3; Hs 9:4; Am 5:21; Mc 6:6; Mal 1:10
21Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people;
friends and neighbors will also perish.
A Cruel Nation from the North
22This is what the Lord says:
Look,6:22–24 Jr 50:41–43 an army is coming from a northern land;6:22–24 Jr 50:41–43
a great nation will be stirred up
23They grasp bow and javelin.
They are cruel and show no mercy.6:23 Is 13:18; Jr 50:42; Hab 1:6–17
and they ride on horses,
lined up like men in battle formation
against you, Daughter Zion.
24We have heard about it,
and our hands have become weak.
Distress has seized us —
pain, like a woman in labor.6:24 Ps 48:6; Is 13:8; 21:3; 42:14; Jr 4:31; 13:21; 22:23; 30:6; 50:43; Mc 4:9–10; 1Th 5:3
25Don’t go out to the fields;
don’t walk on the road.
For the enemy has a sword;
26My dear6:26 Lit Daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth
Mourn as you would for an only son,6:26 Am 8:10
a bitter lament,
for suddenly the destroyer6:26 Ex 12:23; Is 21:2; 54:16; Jr 48:8,15,18,32; 1Co 10:10; Heb 11:28 will come on us.6:26 Is 47:11; Jr 4:20; 15:8
Jeremiah Appointed as an Examiner
27I have appointed you to be an assayer among my people —
a refiner6:27 Text emended; MT reads fortress —
28All are stubborn rebels
They are bronze and iron;
29The bellows blow,
blasting the lead with fire.
The refining is completely in vain;
the evil ones are not separated out.
30They are called rejected silver,
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
