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 overand the shadows of evening are getting long.
5. So come on, let’s go ahead and attack it by nightand destroy all its fortified buildings.’
6. All of this is because the Lord who rules over all has said:‘Cut down the trees around Jerusalemand 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 waterso 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 disgustand 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 harvesterpassing your hand over the branches one last time.”
10. I answered, “Who would listenif I spoke to them and warned them?Their ears are so closedthat they cannot hear!Indeed, what the Lord says is offensive to them.They do not like it at all.