| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1"Flee to safety, you people of Benjamin, leave Jerusalem. Sound the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal over Beth-haccerem! For calamity and terrible destruction are turning toward you from the north. | 1"Run for cover, Benjaminites, out of Jerusalem! Sound the ram's horn in Tekoa; raise a smoke signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster threatens from the north, even great destruction. |
| 2I'll destroy the lovely and delicate Daughter of Zion. | 2Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy Daughter Zion. |
| 3Shepherds and their flocks will come against her. They'll pitch their tents all around her, and every one will tend his flock in his own place. | 3Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her. Each will pasture his own portion. |
| 4Prepare for war against her. Get ready, let's attack at noon! How terrible for us that the day is coming to an end, and that the evening shadows are lengthening. | 4Set them apart for war against her; rise up, let's attack at noon. Woe to us, for the day is passing; the evening shadows grow long. |
| 5Get ready, let's attack at night, and destroy her fortresses." | 5Rise up, let's attack by night. Let us destroy her fortresses." |
| 6For this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Cut down trees and set up siege works against Jerusalem. It is the city to be judged, and there is oppression throughout the entire city. | 6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: Cut down the trees; raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished. There is nothing but oppression within her. |
| 7As a well keeps its waters fresh, so the city keeps her wickedness fresh. Violence and destruction are heard in her, sickness and wounds are always before me. | 7As a well gushes out its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her. Sickness and wounds keep coming to My attention. |
| 8Be warned, Jerusalem, or I'll be alienated from you. I'll make you desolate, a land not inhabited." | 8Be warned, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitants. |
| 9This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as they would the vine. Pass your hand over them like grape gatherers over the branches. | 9This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches. |
| 10To whom will I speak and give a warning so they'll listen? Look, their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. Look, this message from the LORD is contemptible to them; they don't delight in it. | 10Who can I speak to and give such a warning that they will listen? Look, their ear is uncircumcised, so they cannot pay attention. See, the word of the LORD has become contemptible to them-- they find no pleasure in it. |
| 11I'm full of the wrath of the LORD, and I'm tired of holding it back. Pour it out on the children in the street and on the groups of young men gathered together. Indeed, both husband and wife will be caught in it, the old and the very old. | 11But I am full of the LORD's wrath; I am tired of holding it back. Pour it out on the children in the street, on the gang of young men as well. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old with the very old. |
| 12Their houses will be turned over to others— their fields and wives together— when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land," declares the LORD. | 12Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land. This is the LORD's declaration. |
| 13"Indeed, from the least important to the most important, they're all greedy for dishonest gain. From prophet to priest, they all act deceitfully. | 13For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is making profit dishonestly. From prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. |
| 14They treated my people's wound superficially, telling them, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace. | 14They have treated My people's brokenness superficially, claiming, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace. |
| 15Were they ashamed because they did what was repugnant to God? They were not ashamed at all— they don't even know how to blush! Therefore they'll fall with those who fall. When I punish them, they'll be brought down," says the LORD. | 15Were they ashamed when they acted so abhorrently? They weren't at all ashamed. They can no longer feel humiliation. Therefore, they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD. |
| 16This is what the LORD says: "Stand beside the roads and watch. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is. Walk in it and find rest for yourselves. But they said, 'We won't walk in it!' | 16This is what the LORD says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, "We won't!" |
| 17I appointed watchmen over you. Listen for the sound of the trumpet. But they said, 'We won't listen!' | 17I appointed watchmen over you and said: Listen for the sound of the ram's horn. But they protested, "We won't listen!" |
| 18Therefore, hear, nations, and know, congregation, what will happen to them. | 18Therefore listen, you nations and you witnesses, learn what the charge is against them. |
| 19Listen, earth! I'm about to bring calamity on this people, on the fruit of their plans, because they didn't listen to my words and they rejected my instruction. | 19Listen, earth! I am about to bring disaster on these people, the fruit of their own plotting, for they have paid no attention to My word. They have rejected My instruction. |
| 20What good is frankincense that comes from Sheba to me, or sweet cane from a distant country? Your burnt offerings aren't acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me." | 20What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me. |
| 21Therefore, this is what the LORD says: "I'm about to put stumbling blocks in front of this people, and fathers and sons will stumble over them together. The neighbor and his friends will perish." | 21Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people; fathers and sons together will stumble over them; friends and neighbors will also perish. |
| 22This is what the LORD says: "Look, people are coming from a northern country. A great nation is stirring from the ends of the earth. | 22This is what the LORD says: Look, an army is coming from a northern land; a great nation will be awakened from the remote regions of the earth. |
| 23They grab bow and spear; they're cruel and show no mercy. Their sound roars like the sea as they ride on horses, deployed like men ready for battle against you, daughter of Zion." | 23They grasp bow and javelin. They are cruel and show no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, lined up like men in battle formation against you, Daughter Zion. |
| 24We have heard the news about it, and our hands are limp. Distress has seized us like a woman in labor. | 24We have heard about it, and we are discouraged. Distress has seized us-- pain like a woman in labor. |
| 25Don't go out into the field, and don't travel on the road, because the enemy has a sword, and terror is on every side. | 25Don't go out to the fields; don't walk on the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side. |
| 26Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as one mourns at the death of an only son. For the destroyer will come on us suddenly. | 26My dear people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in the dust. Mourn as you would for an only son, a bitter lament, for suddenly the destroyer will come on us. |
| 27"I've made you an assayer of my people, as well as a fortress. You know how to test their way." | 27I have appointed you to be an assayer among My people-- a refiner-- so you may know and assay their way of life. |
| 28All of them are very rebellious, going around as slanderers. They're bronze and iron, and all of them are corrupt. | 28All are stubborn rebels spreading slander. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt. |
| 29The bellows blow fiercely to consume the lead with the fire. The assayer keeps on refining, but the impurities aren't separated out. | 29The bellows blow, blasting the lead with fire. The refining is completely in vain; the evil ones are not separated out. |
| 30They're called reject silver, because the LORD has rejected them. | 30They are called rejected silver, for the LORD has rejected them. |
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