(KJV) Jeremiah 6¹

<< Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 7 >>

⥃Jerusalem’s Final Warning

[1] O ye² children of Benjamin, gather³ yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow⁴ the trumpet in Tekoa⁵, and set up a sign of fire in Beth–haccerem⁶: for evil⁷ appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. [2] I have likened the daughter⁸ of Zion to a comely and delicate [woman⁹]. [3] The shepherds¹⁰ with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall¹¹ pitch [their] tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place. [4] Prepare¹² ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon¹³. Woe unto us! for the¹⁴ day goeth away, for the shadows¹⁵ of the evening are stretched out. [5] Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy¹⁶ her palaces.

[6] [¶]For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her. [7] As a fountain¹⁷ casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence¹⁸ and spoil is heard in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds. [8] Be thou¹⁹ instructed, O Jerusalem, lest²⁰ my soul depart²¹ from thee; lest I²² make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

[9] Thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall²³ thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets. [10] To whom²⁴ shall I speak, and give²⁵ warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear²⁶ [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word²⁷ of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight²⁸ in it. [11] Therefore²⁹ I am full of the fury of the Lord; I am weary with holding in: I will³⁰ pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even³¹ the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with [him that is] full of days. [12] And their³² houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will³³ stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord. [13] For³⁴ from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given to covetousness; and³⁵ from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. [14] They have healed³⁶ also the hurt³⁷ [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, Peace³⁸, peace; when [there is] no peace. [15] Were³⁹ they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush⁴⁰: therefore⁴¹ they shall fall among them that fall: at the time⁴² [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. [16] Thus saith the Lord, Stand⁴³ ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk⁴⁴ therein, and ye shall⁴⁵ find rest for your souls. But they said, We will⁴⁶ not walk [therein]. [17] Also I⁴⁷ set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken⁴⁸ to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We⁴⁹ will not hearken.

[18] Therefore hear⁵⁰, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what [is] among them. [19] Hear, O earth⁵¹: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even⁵²] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to⁵³ my law, but rejected it. [20] To what⁵⁴ purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba⁵⁵, and the sweet cane⁵⁶ from a far country? your burnt⁵⁷ offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. [21] Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will⁵⁸ lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers⁵⁹ and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

⥃An Invasion from the North

[22] Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people⁶⁰ cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. [23] They shall⁶¹ lay hold on bow and spear; they [are] cruel⁶², and have no mercy; their⁶³ voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. [24] We have⁶⁴ heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish⁶⁵ hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail. [25] Go not⁶⁶ forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword⁶⁷ of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.

[26] [¶]O daughter⁶⁸ of my people, gird⁶⁹ [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee⁷⁰ mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the⁷¹ spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. [27] I have set thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.⁷² [28] They [are] all grievous⁷³ revolters, walking⁷⁴ with slanders: [they are] brass⁷⁵ and iron; they [are] all corrupters⁷⁶. [29] The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder⁷⁷ melteth in vain⁷⁸: for the wicked are not plucked away. [30] Reprobate silver⁷⁹ shall [men] call them, because the Lord⁸⁰ hath rejected them.

<< Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 7 >>