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          DASV: Jeremiah 6    

1 "Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin!
      Get out of Jerusalem!
      Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
           and send out a signal from Beth-haccherem!
      For disaster is emerging from the north,
           and great destruction.
2 The lovely and delicate one,
      the daughter of Zion I will destroy.
3 Kings like shepherds with their flocks will come against her;
           they will pitch their tents surrounding her.
      They each will feed in their assigned place.
4 They will say, 'Prepare for battle against her;
           get up and let us attack at noon.'
      Later, 'Woe to us! For the day is fading,
           for the shadows of the evening are lengthening.
5 Get up, and let us attack at night,
      and let us destroy her palaces.'"

6 For this is what the LORD says,
     "Cut down trees,
           and cast up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
      This is the city to be punished.
      There is nothing but oppression in her midst.
7 As a well pours out its waters,
           so she pours out her wickedness.
      Violence and destruction is heard in her;
           her sickness and wounds are continually before me.
8 Be warned, O Jerusalem,
     or I will turn away from you in disgust;
     I will turn you into a ruin,
           a land not inhabited."

9 This is what the LORD of hosts says,
      "They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine.
      Go over it again, your hand as a grape gatherer into the branches.
10 To whom can I speak and offer a warning?
      Look, their ears are closed,
           they cannot hear.
      Look, the word of the LORD has become a joke to them;
           they have no delight in it.

11 But I am full of the wrath of the LORD;
      I am weary from holding it in.
           "Pour it out on the children in the street,
      and upon the assembly of young men as well;
           both husband and wife will be taken,
           the aged and those well along in years.
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,
      as well as their fields and their wives;
      I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land,"
           says the LORD.

13 "For from the least to the greatest of them
           every one is greedy for dishonest gain.
      From the prophet even to the priest,
           they all practice deceit.
14 They have treated the wound of my people
           as if it were only superficial,
      saying, 'Peace, peace;'
           when there is no peace.
15 Are they ashamed that they have committed such detestable things?
      No, they were not ashamed at all;
           they cannot even blush.
      Therefore they will fall among those who have fallen dead.
      At the time I will punish them,
           they will be knocked down," says the LORD.

16 This is what the LORD says,
      "Stand at the crossroads and look,
           ask for the old paths,
      where the good way is,
           and walk in it,
      and you will find rest for your souls.
      But they said, 'We will not walk that way.'
17 I set up watchmen over you, saying,
      'Listen for the sound of the trumpet.'
      But they said, 'We won't listen.'
18 Therefore listen, you nations,
      realize, O congregation, what is going to happen to them.
19 Listen, O earth:
      I will bring disaster on this people,
           which is the fruit of their schemes,
      because they have not paid attention to my words;
           they have rejected my law.
20 Do I care when they offer frankincense from Sheba,
           and sweet smelling calamus from a far country?
      Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
           your sacrifices are not pleasing to me."

21 Therefore this is what the LORD says,
      "Look, I will lay stumbling blocks in front of this people;
           the fathers and sons both will stumble over them.
      Friends and neighbors will perish."

22 This is what the LORD says,
      "Look, a people is coming from the north country;
      a great nation is being stirred up
           from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They lay hold on bows and spears;
      they are cruel and have no mercy;
      their voice roars like the sea,
           as they ride out on horses.
      Every one is set in battle formation
           as a unit coming to the battle, against you,
     v O daughter of Zion.
24 They will say, 'We have heard the report about them.
      Our hands fall limp,
           anguish has taken hold of us,
           like the pain of a woman in labor.
25 Do not go out into the field,
      or walk by the road;
      because of the sword of the enemy,
      terror is on every side.'
26 O daughter of my people,
      dress in sackcloth,
           grovel in ashes.
      Grieve as you would for an only son,
           with bitter weeping,
      for the destroyer will come on us suddenly.
27 I have made you, Jeremiah, a tester and a fortress among my people,
      that you may know and test their ways.
28 They are all stubborn rebels,
           going around peddling slander.
      They are bronze and iron;
           they all act corruptly.
29 The refining bellows blow fiercely;
           the lead is consumed by the fire.
      In vain they attempt to refine;
           the wicked are not removed.
30 They are called 'rejected silver',
      for the LORD has rejected them."

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