Bible Language

Jeremiah 6:17 (NET) New English Translation

1 "Run for safety, people of Benjamin! Get out of Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Light the signal fires at Beth Hakkerem! For disaster lurks out of the north; it will bring great destruction.
2 I will destroy Daughter Zion, who is as delicate and defenseless as a young maiden.
3 Kings will come against it with their armies. They will encamp in siege all around it. Each of them will devastate the portion assigned to him.
4 They will say, 'Prepare to do battle against it! Come on! Let's attack it at noon!' But later they will say, 'Oh, oh! Too bad! The day is almost over and the shadows of evening are getting long.
5 So come on, let's go ahead and attack it by night and destroy all its fortified buildings.'
6 All of this is because the LORD who rules over all has said: 'Cut down the trees around Jerusalem and build up a siege ramp against its walls. This is the city which is to be punished. Nothing but oppression happens in it.
7 As a well continually pours out fresh water so it continually pours out wicked deeds. Sounds of violence and destruction echo throughout it. All I see are sick and wounded people.'
8 So take warning, Jerusalem, or I will abandon you in disgust and make you desolate, a place where no one can live."
9 This is what the LORD who rules over all said to me: "Those who remain in Israel will be like the grapes thoroughly gleaned from a vine. So go over them again, as though you were a grape harvester passing your hand over the branches one last time."
10 I answered, "Who would listen if I spoke to them and warned them? Their ears are so closed that they cannot hear! Indeed, what the LORD says is offensive to them. They do not like it at all.
11 I am as full of anger as you are, LORD, I am tired of trying to hold it in." The LORD answered, "Vent it, then, on the children who play in the street and on the young men who are gathered together. Husbands and wives are to be included, as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.
12 Their houses will be turned over to others as will their fields and their wives. For I will unleash my power against those who live in this land," says the LORD.
13 "That is because, from the least important to the most important of them, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. Prophets and priests alike, all of them practice deceit.
14 They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, 'Everything will be all right!' But everything is not all right!
15 Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things? No, they are not at all ashamed. They do not even know how to blush! So they will die, just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them," says the LORD.
16 The LORD said to his people: "You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls." But they said, "We will not follow it!"
17 The LORD said, "I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying: 'Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!'" But they said, "We will not pay attention!"
18 So the LORD said, "Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.
19 Hear this, you peoples of the earth: 'Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law.
20 I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.'
21 So, this is what the LORD says: 'I will assuredly make these people stumble to their doom. Parents and children will stumble and fall to their destruction. Friends and neighbors will die.'
22 "This is what the LORD says: 'Beware! An army is coming from a land in the north. A mighty nation is stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.
23 Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle to attack you, Daughter Zion.'"
24 The people cry out, "We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!
25 Do not go out into the countryside. Do not travel on the roads. For the enemy is there with sword in hand. They are spreading terror everywhere."
26 So I said, "Oh, my dear people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with painful sobs as though you had lost your only child. For any moment now that destructive army will come against us."
27 The LORD said to me, "I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave."
28 I reported, "All of them are the most stubborn of rebels! They are as hard as bronze or iron. They go about telling lies. They all deal corruptly.
29 The fiery bellows of judgment burn fiercely. But there is too much dross to be removed. The process of refining them has proved useless. The wicked have not been purged.
30 They are regarded as 'rejected silver' because the LORD rejects them."
1 O ye children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 , gather yourselves to flee H5756 out of the midst H7130 of Jerusalem H3389 , and blow H8628 the trumpet H7782 in Tekoa H8620 , and set up H5375 a sign of fire H4864 in H5921 W-PREP Beth H1021 - haccerem : for H3588 CONJ evil H7451 AFS appeareth H8259 out of the north H6828 M-NFS , and great H1419 destruction H7667 .
2 I have likened H1819 the daughter H1323 CFS of Zion H6726 to a comely H5000 and delicate H6026 woman .
3 The shepherds H7462 with their flocks H5739 shall come H935 VQY3MP unto H413 PREP-3FS her ; they shall pitch H8628 their tents H168 against H5921 PREP-3FS her round about H5439 ADV ; they shall feed H7462 every one H376 NMS in H854 his place H3027 .
4 Prepare H6942 ye war H4421 NFS against H5921 PREP-3FS her ; arise H6965 , and let us go up H5927 at noon H6672 . Woe H188 unto us ! for H3588 CONJ the day H3117 D-AMS goeth away H6437 , for H3588 CONJ the shadows H6752 of the evening H6153 are stretched out H5186 .
5 Arise H6965 , and let us go H5927 by night H3915 , and let us destroy H7843 her palaces H759 .
6 For H3588 CONJ thus H3541 hath the LORD H3068 EDS of hosts H6635 said H559 VQQ3MS , Hew ye down H3772 trees H6097 , and cast H8210 a mount H5550 against H5921 PREP Jerusalem H3389 : this H1931 PPRO-3FS is the city H5892 D-GFS to be visited H6485 ; she is wholly H3605 oppression H6233 in the midst H7130 of her .
7 As a fountain H953 casteth out H6979 her waters H4325 , so H3651 ADV she casteth H6979 out her wickedness H7451 : violence H2555 AMS and spoil H7701 is heard H8085 in her ; before H5921 PREP me continually H8548 is grief H2483 and wounds H4347 .
8 Be thou instructed H3256 , O Jerusalem H3389 , lest H6435 CONJ my soul H5315 CFS-1MS depart H3363 from H4480 thee ; lest H6435 CONJ I make H7760 thee desolate H8077 , a land H776 GFS not H3808 inhabited H3427 .
9 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS of hosts H6635 , They shall throughly glean H5953 the remnant H7611 of Israel H3478 as a vine H1612 : turn back H7725 VHFA thine hand H3027 CFS-2MS as a grape gatherer H1219 into H5921 PREP the baskets H5552 .
10 To H5921 PREP whom H4310 IPRO shall I speak H1696 VPI1MS , and give warning H5749 , that they may hear H8085 ? behold H2009 IJEC , their ear H241 CFS-3MP is uncircumcised H6189 , and they cannot H3201 hearken H7181 L-VHFC : behold H2009 IJEC , the word H1697 NMS of the LORD H3068 EDS is H1961 VQQ3MS unto them a reproach H2781 ; they have no H3808 W-NPAR delight H2654 in it .
11 Therefore I am full H4392 of H854 W-PART the fury H2534 of the LORD H3068 EDS ; I am weary H3811 with holding H3557 in : I will pour it out H8210 upon H5921 PREP the children H5768 abroad H2351 BD-NMS , and upon H5921 PREP the assembly H5475 of young men H970 together H3162 ADV-3MS : for H3588 CONJ even H1571 CONJ the husband H376 NMS with H5973 PREP the wife H802 NFS shall be taken H3920 , the aged H2205 PFS with H5973 PREP him that is full H4390 of days H3117 NMP .
12 And their houses H1004 shall be turned H5437 unto others H312 , with their fields H7704 and wives H802 together H3162 ADV-3MS : for H3588 CONJ I will stretch out H5186 my hand H3027 CFS-1MS upon H5921 PREP the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 D-GFS , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
13 For H3588 CONJ from the least H6996 of them even unto H5704 W-PREP the greatest H1419 of them every one H3605 CMS-3MS is given to H1214 covetousness H1215 NMS ; and from the prophet H5030 even unto H5704 W-PREP the priest H3548 every one H3605 CMS-3MS dealeth H6213 VQPMS falsely H8267 .
14 They have healed H7495 also the hurt H7667 of the daughter of my people H5971 slightly H7043 , saying H559 L-VQFC , Peace H7965 NMS , peace H7965 NMS ; when there is no H369 W-NPAR peace H7965 .
15 Were they ashamed H954 when H3588 CONJ they had committed H6213 VQQ3MP abomination H8441 ? nay H1571 CONJ , they were not H3808 ADV at all ashamed H954 , neither H3808 NADV could H3045 VQQ3MP they blush H3637 : therefore H3651 L-ADV they shall fall H5307 among them that fall H5307 : at the time H6256 that I visit H6485 them they shall be cast down H3782 , saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
16 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , Stand H5975 ye in H5921 PREP the ways H1870 , and see H7200 , and ask H7592 for the old H5769 NMS paths H5410 , where H335 IPRO is the good H2896 D-NMS way H1870 , and walk H1980 W-VQI2MP therein , and ye shall find H4672 rest H4771 for your souls H5315 . But they said H559 W-VQY3MP , We will not H3808 NADV walk H1980 therein .
17 Also I set H6965 W-VHQ1MS watchmen H6822 over H5921 PREP-2MP you , saying , Hearken H7181 to the sound H6963 L-CMS of the trumpet H7782 . But they said H559 W-VQY3MP , We will not H3808 NADV hearken H7181 .
18 Therefore H3651 L-ADV hear H8085 VQI2MP , ye nations H1471 D-NMP , and know H3045 , O congregation H5712 , what H834 RPRO is among them .
19 Hear H8085 , O earth H776 D-GFS : behold H2009 IJEC , I H595 PPRO-1MS will bring H935 VHPMS evil H7451 AFS upon H413 PREP this H2088 D-PMS people H5971 , even the fruit H6529 NMS of their thoughts H4284 , because H3588 CONJ they have not H3808 NADV hearkened H7181 unto H5921 PREP my words H1697 CMP-1MS , nor to my law H8451 , but rejected H3988 it .
20 To what H4100 L-IPRO purpose H2088 PMS cometh H935 VQY3FS there to me incense H3828 from Sheba H7614 , and the sweet H2896 D-NMS cane H7070 from a far H4801 country H776 M-NFS ? your burnt offerings H5930 are not H3808 NADV acceptable H7522 , nor H3808 NADV your sacrifices H2077 sweet H6149 unto me .
21 Therefore H3651 L-ADV thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , Behold H2009 , I will lay H5414 VQPMS stumblingblocks H4383 before H413 PREP this H2088 D-PMS people H5971 , and the fathers H1 and the sons H1121 together H3162 ADV-3MS shall fall H3782 upon them ; the neighbor H7934 and his friend H7453 shall perish H6 .
22 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , Behold H2009 IJEC , a people H5971 NMS cometh H935 VQPMS from the north H6828 NFS country H776 M-NFS , and a great H1419 AMS nation H1471 shall be raised H5782 from the sides H3411 of the earth H776 GFS .
23 They shall lay hold H2388 on bow H7198 CFS and spear H3591 ; they H1931 PPRO-3MS are cruel H394 , and have no H3808 W-NPAR mercy H7355 ; their voice H6963 CMS-3MP roareth H1993 like the sea H3220 ; and they ride H7392 upon H5921 W-PREP horses H5483 , set in array H6186 as men H376 for war H4421 against H5921 thee , O daughter H1323 CFS of Zion H6726 .
24 We have heard H8085 VQQ1MP the fame H8089 thereof : our hands H3027 GFP-1MP wax feeble H7503 : anguish H6869 NFS hath taken hold H2388 of us , and pain H2427 , as of a woman in travail H3205 .
25 Go not forth into the field H7704 D-NMS , nor H408 NPAR walk H1980 by the way H1870 ; for H3588 CONJ the sword H2719 GFS of the enemy H341 and fear H4032 is on every side H5439 .
26 O daughter H1323 CFS of my people H5971 , gird H2296 thee with sackcloth H8242 , and wallow thyself H6428 in ashes H665 : make H6213 thee mourning H60 , as for an only son H3173 , most bitter H8563 lamentation H4553 : for H3588 CONJ the spoiler H7703 shall suddenly H6597 come H935 VQY3MS upon H5921 us .
27 I have set H5414 thee for a tower H969 and a fortress H4013 among my people H5971 , that thou mayest know H3045 and try H974 their way H1870 .
28 They are all H3605 CMS-3MP grievous H5493 revolters H5637 , walking H1980 with slanders H7400 : they are brass H5178 CFS and iron H1270 W-NMS ; they H1992 are all H3605 CMS-3MP corrupters H7843 .
29 The bellows H4647 are burned H2787 , the lead H5777 is consumed H8552 of the fire H784 ; the founder H6884 melteth H6884 in vain H7723 : for the wicked H7451 are not H3808 NADV plucked away H5423 .
30 Reprobate H3988 silver H3701 NMS shall men call H7121 them , because H3588 CONJ the LORD H3068 EDS hath rejected H3988 them .