1“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin, get yourselves out of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa; and raise a signal of alarm in Beth-hakkerem! For disaster and great destruction loom from the north. 2I will destroy Zion, My beautiful and delicate daughter.”

3Enemies, like shepherds with their flocks, shall be camped all around her; each choosing their place to attack. 4Prepare for war against her; arise, and let us attack at noon. No, it is too late, for day is fading; the shadows of the evening are growing long. 5So, instead, let us attack at night, and destroy her fortresses. 6For the LORD of hosts says, “Cut down trees, and build siege ramps around the walls of Jerusalem; this is the city due for judgment; she is full of oppression. 7As a fountain gushes out water, so she gushes wickedness; the sounds of violence and mayhem resound; and her grief and wounds are ever before Me. 8Be warned, O Jerusalem, or My soul shall depart from you, and I shall make you a desolate and deserted land.”

9Thus says the LORD of hosts, “They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine; pass your hands over its branches again, like one who gathers grapes into baskets.”

10To whom shall I (Jeremiah) speak, and give warning? Who will listen to Me” Behold, their ears are uncircumcised (closed), and they will not hear; in fact, the word of the LORD is offensive to them; they take no pleasure in it. 11Therefore, I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am tired of holding it in; and I will pour out God’s message of warning upon them – to children at play, young men where they gather, both husband and wife – they shall all be caught in it, as well as the aged full of days.

12“Their houses shall be turned over to others, together with their fields and wives; for I will stretch out My hand upon those that inhabit the land”, says the LORD. 13“From the least of them to the greatest, all of them are greedy; from the prophet to the priest, every one deals falsely. 14They have treated the wound of My people as though it were not serious, saying, ‘Peace, peace’; when there is no peace. 15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush; therefore, they shall be among those that fall; at the time that I judge them, they shall be brought down.”, says the LORD.

16So this is what the LORD says, “Stand at the crossroads, and look; and seek for the old godly ways, and walk in them, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in them.’ 17Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen for the sound of the trumpet.’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ 18Therefore, hear, you nations, that are witnesses, and observe, O congregation, what shall happen to them. 19Hear, O earth: I will bring disaster upon this people - the fruit of their evil thoughts, because they have not listened to My words, nor to My law, but rejected it. 20What do I care about incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to Me.” 21Therefore, the LORD says, “Behold, I put obstacles before this people, that fathers and sons alike shall stumble over; neighbors and friends shall perish.”

22Thus says the LORD, “Behold, an army from the north country is coming, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the ends of the earth. 23They are equipped with bow and spear; they are cruel, and show no mercy; their voice roars like the sea as they ride upon horses arrayed for war against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24We have heard the report of it; our hands hang limp and feeble; anguish has gripped us, and pain, like a woman in labor. 25Do not venture out into the field, nor walk by the road; for fear of the sword of the enemy on every side. 26O daughter of my people, put on your sackcloth (mourning clothes), and wallow in ashes; mourn as a bitter lamentation for an only son; for the spoiler shall suddenly appear.

27“Jeremiah, I have appointed you to examine My people, like one would test ore, to see what they are made of, and to test their ways.”

28“They are all hardened offenders, like bronze and iron, going about slandering others; they are all corrupters. 29The bellows are blowing hard; the lead is consumed in the fire; but the refining goes on in vain; for wickedness is not purged away.” 30Men shall call them reprobate silver, because the LORD has rejected them.