Study Desk

"Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet^(a) in Tekoa!^(b) Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!^(c) For disaster looms out of the north,^(d) even terrible destruction.

I will destroy Daughter Zion,^(e) so beautiful and delicate.^(f)

Shepherds^(g) with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around^(h) her, each tending his own portion."

"Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon!⁽ⁱ⁾ But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long.

So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!"

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Cut down the trees^(j) and build siege ramps^(k) against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.^(l)

As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence^(m) and destruction⁽ⁿ⁾ resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me.

Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away^(o) from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it."

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Let them glean the remnant^(p) of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes."

To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen^(q) to me? Their ears are closed^[a](r) so they cannot hear.^(s) The word^(t) of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

But I am full of the wrath^(u) of the Lord , and I cannot hold it in.^(v) "Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men^(w) gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years.^(x)

Their houses will be turned over to others,^(y) together with their fields and their wives,^(z) when I stretch out my hand^(aa) against those who live in the land," declares the Lord .

"From the least to the greatest, all^(ab) are greedy for gain;^(ac) prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.^(ad)

They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.^(ae)

Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.^(af) So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish^(ag) them," says the Lord .

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,^(ah) ask where the good way^(ai) is, and walk in it, and you will find rest^(aj) for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'

I appointed watchmen^(ak) over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!'^(al) But you said, ‘We will not listen.'^(am)

Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them.

Hear, you earth:^(an) I am bringing disaster^(ao) on this people, the fruit of their schemes,^(ap) because they have not listened to my words^(aq) and have rejected my law.^(ar)

What do I care about incense from Sheba^(as) or sweet calamus^(at) from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;^(au) your sacrifices^(av) do not please me."^(aw)

Therefore this is what the Lord says: "I will put obstacles before this people. Parents and children alike will stumble^(ax) over them; neighbors and friends will perish."

This is what the Lord says: "Look, an army is coming from the land of the north;^(ay) a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.^(az)

They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy.^(ba) They sound like the roaring sea^(bb) as they ride on their horses;^(bc) they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Zion.^(bd)"

We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp.^(be) Anguish^(bf) has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.^(bg)

Do not go out to the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword, and there is terror on every side.^(bh)

Put on sackcloth,^(bi) my people, and roll in ashes;^(bj) mourn with bitter wailing^(bk) as for an only son,^(bl) for suddenly the destroyer^(bm) will come upon us.

"I have made you a tester^(bn) of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways.

They are all hardened rebels,^(bo) going about to slander.^(bp) They are bronze and iron;^(bq) they all act corruptly.

The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining^(br) goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out.

They are called rejected silver,^(bs) because the Lord has rejected them."^(bt)

The Covenant Is Broken

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord :

"Listen to the terms of this covenant^(a) and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem.

Tell them that this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed^(b) is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant—

the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt,^(c) out of the iron-smelting furnace.^(d)' I said, ‘Obey^(e) me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people,^(f) and I will be your God.

Then I will fulfill the oath I swore^(g) to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey'^(h)—the land you possess today." I answered, "Amen,⁽ⁱ⁾ Lord ."

The Lord said to me, "Proclaim^(j) all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow^(k) them.

From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again,^(l) saying, "Obey me."

But they did not listen or pay attention;^(m) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.⁽ⁿ⁾ So I brought on them all the curses^(o) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.^(p)'"

Then the Lord said to me, "There is a conspiracy^(q) among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem.

They have returned to the sins of their ancestors,^(r) who refused to listen to my words.^(s) They have followed other gods^(t) to serve them.^(u) Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant^(v) I made with their ancestors.

Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster^(w) they cannot escape.^(x) Although they cry^(y) out to me, I will not listen^(z) to them.

The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense,^(aa) but they will not help them at all when disaster^(ab) strikes.

You, Judah, have as many gods^(ac) as you have towns;^(ad) and the altars you have set up to burn incense^(ae) to that shameful^(af) god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.'

"Do not pray^(ag) for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen^(ah) when they call to me in the time of their distress.

"What is my beloved doing in my temple as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes? Can consecrated meat^(ai) avert your punishment?^(aj) When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice.^[a]"

The Lord called you a thriving olive tree^(ak) with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm he will set it on fire,^(al) and its branches will be broken.^(am)

The Lord Almighty, who planted^(an) you, has decreed disaster^(ao) for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused^(ap) my anger by burning incense to Baal.^(aq)

Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.

I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;^(ar) I did not realize that they had plotted^(as) against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living,^(at) that his name be remembered^(au) no more."

But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously^(av) and test the heart^(aw) and mind,^(ax) let me see your vengeance^(ay) on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth^(az) who are threatening to kill you,^(ba) saying, "Do not prophesy^(bb) in the name of the Lord or you will die^(bc) by our hands"—

therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: "I will punish them. Their young men^(bd) will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.

Not even a remnant^(be) will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.^(bf)"

You are always righteous,^(a) Lord , when I bring a case^(b) before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice:^(c) Why does the way of the wicked prosper?^(d) Why do all the faithless live at ease?

You have planted^(e) them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit.^(f) You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.^(g)

Yet you know me, Lord ; you see me and test^(h) my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep⁽ⁱ⁾ to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!^(j)

How long will the land lie parched^(k) and the grass in every field be withered?^(l) Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished.^(m) Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble^[a] in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets⁽ⁿ⁾ by^[b] the Jordan?

Your relatives, members of your own family— even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you.^(o) Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.^(p)

"I will forsake^(q) my house, abandon^(r) my inheritance; I will give the one I love^(s) into the hands of her enemies.^(t)

My inheritance has become to me like a lion^(u) in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.^(v)

Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.^(w)

Many shepherds^(x) will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.^(y)

It will be made a wasteland,^(z) parched and desolate before me;^(aa) the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.

Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword^(ab) of the Lord ^(ac) will devour^(ad) from one end of the land to the other;^(ae) no one will be safe.^(af)

They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.^(ag) They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the Lord 's fierce anger."^(ah)

This is what the Lord says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance^(ai) I gave my people Israel, I will uproot^(aj) them from their lands and I will uproot^(ak) the people of Judah from among them.

But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion^(al) and will bring^(am) each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.

And if they learn^(an) well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives'^(ao)—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal^(ap)—then they will be established among my people.^(aq)

But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy^(ar) it," declares the Lord .