1. “Run for your lives, people of Benjamin!Run away from Jerusalem!Blow the war trumpet in the town of Tekoa!Raise the warning flag over the town of Beth Hakkerem!Disaster is coming from the north;terrible destruction is coming to you.
2. Jerusalem, I will destroy you,you who are fragile and gentle.
3. Shepherds with their flocks will come against Jerusalem.They will set up their tents all around her,each shepherd taking care of his own section.”
4. They say, “Get ready to fight against Jerusalem!Get up! We will attack at noon!But it is already getting late;the evening shadows are growing long.
5. So get up! We will attack at night.We will destroy the strong towers of Jerusalem!”
6. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says:“Cut down the trees around Jerusalem,and build an attack ramp to the top of its walls.This city must be punished.Inside it is nothing but slavery.
7. Jerusalem pours out her evilas a well pours out its water.The sounds of violence and destruction are heard within her.I can see the sickness and hurts of Jerusalem.
8. Listen to this warning, Jerusalem,or I will turn my back on youand make your land an empty desertwhere no one can live.”
9. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says:“Gather the few people of Israel who are left alive,as you would gather the last grapes on a grapevine.Check each vine again,like someone who gathers grapes.”
10. To whom can I speak? Whom can I warn?Who will listen to me?The people of Israel have closed ears,so they cannot hear my warnings.They don’t like the word of the Lord;they don’t want to listen to it!
11. But I am full of the anger of the Lord,and I am tired of holding it in.“Pour out my anger on the children who play in the streetand on the young men gathered together.A husband and his wife will both be caught in his anger,as will the very old.
12. Their houses will be turned over to others,along with their fields and wives,because I will raise my handand punish the people of Judah,” says the Lord.
13. “Everyone, from the least important to the greatest,is greedy for money.Even the prophets and priestsall tell lies.
14. They tried to heal my people’s serious injuriesas if they were small wounds.They said, ‘It’s all right, it’s all right.’But really, it is not all right.
15. They should be ashamed of the terrible way they act,but they are not ashamed at all.They don’t even know how to blush about their sins.So they will fall, along with everyone else.They will be thrown to the ground when I punish them,” says the Lord.