19. Hear, you earth:I am bringing disaster on this people,the fruit of their schemes,because they have not listened to my wordsand have rejected my law.
20. What do I care about incense from Shebaor sweet calamus from a distant land?Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;your sacrifices do not please me.’
21. Therefore this is what the Lord says:‘I will put obstacles before this people.Parents and children alike will stumble over them;neighbours and friends will perish.’
22. This is what the Lord says:‘Look, an army is comingfrom the land of the north;a great nation is being stirred upfrom the ends of the earth.
23. They are armed with bow and spear;they are cruel and show no mercy.They sound like the roaring seaas they ride on their horses;they come like men in battle formationto attack you, Daughter Zion.’
24. We have heard reports about them,and our hands hang limp.Anguish has gripped us,pain like that of a woman in labour.
25. Do not go out to the fieldsor walk on the roads,for the enemy has a sword,and there is terror on every side.
26. Put on sackcloth, my people,and roll in ashes;mourn with bitter wailingas for an only son,for suddenly the destroyerwill come upon us.
27. ‘I have made you a tester of metalsand my people the ore,that you may observeand test their ways.
28. They are all hardened rebels,going about to slander.They are bronze and iron;they all act corruptly.
29. The bellows blow fiercelyto burn away the lead with fire,but the refining goes on in vain;the wicked are not purged out.
30. They are called rejected silver,because the Lord has rejected them.’