16. Thus says the Lord:“Stand in the ways and see,And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,And walk in it;Then you will find rest for your souls.But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17. Also, I set watchmen over you, saying,‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18. Therefore hear, you nations,And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19. Hear, O earth!Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people—The fruit of their thoughts,Because they have not heeded My wordsNor My law, but rejected it.
20. For what purpose to MeComes frankincense from Sheba,And sweet cane from a far country?Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”
21. Therefore thus says the Lord:“Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”
22. Thus says the Lord:“Behold, a people comes from the north country,And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
23. They will lay hold on bow and spear;They are cruel and have no mercy;Their voice roars like the sea;And they ride on horses,As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion.”
24. We have heard the report of it;Our hands grow feeble.Anguish has taken hold of us,Pain as of a woman in labor.
25. Do not go out into the field,Nor walk by the way.Because of the sword of the enemy,Fear is on every side.
26. O daughter of my people,Dress in sackclothAnd roll about in ashes!Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.
27. “I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people,That you may know and test their way.
28. They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers.They are bronze and iron,They are all corrupters;
29. The bellows blow fiercely,The lead is consumed by the fire;The smelter refines in vain,For the wicked are not drawn off.
30. People will call them rejected silver,Because the Lord has rejected them.”