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.