¹ If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

² And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

³ For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

⁶ Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

⁷ The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

⁸ For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.

⁹ And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

¹⁰ Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

¹¹ At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,

¹² Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

¹³ Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

¹⁴ O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

¹⁵ For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

¹⁶ Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.

¹⁸ Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

¹⁹ My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

²⁰ Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

²¹ How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

²² For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

²³ I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

²⁵ I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

²⁶ I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

²⁷ For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

²⁸ For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

²⁹ The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

³⁰ And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

³¹ For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

---

¹ If thou wilt return, ^H7725 O Israel, ^H3478 saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 return ^H7725 unto me: and if thou wilt put away ^H5493 thine abominations ^H8251 out of my sight, ^H6440 then shalt thou not remove. ^H5110

² And thou shalt swear, ^H7650 The LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 in truth, ^H571 in judgment, ^H4941 and in righteousness; ^H6666 and the nations ^H1471 shall bless ^H1288 themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. ^H1984

³ For thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 to the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem, ^H3389 Break up ^H5214 your fallow ground, ^H5215 and sow ^H2232 not among thorns. ^H6975

⁴ Circumcise ^H4135 yourselves to the LORD, ^H3068 and take away ^H5493 the foreskins ^H6190 of your heart, ^H3824 ye men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 and inhabitants ^H3427 of Jerusalem: ^H3389 lest my fury ^H2534 come forth ^H3318 like fire, ^H784 and burn ^H1197 that none can quench ^H3518 it, because ^H6440 of the evil ^H7455 of your doings. ^H4611

⁵ Declare ^H5046 ye in Judah, ^H3063 and publish ^H8085 in Jerusalem; ^H3389 and say, ^H559 Blow ^H8628 ye the trumpet ^H7782 in the land: ^H776 cry, ^H7121 gather together, ^H4390 and say, ^H559 Assemble ^H622 yourselves, and let us go ^H935 into the defenced ^H4013 cities. ^H5892

⁶ Set up ^H5375 the standard ^H5251 toward Zion: ^H6726 retire, ^H5756 stay ^H5975 not: for I will bring ^H935 evil ^H7451 from the north, ^H6828 and a great ^H1419 destruction. ^H7667

⁷ The lion ^H738 is come up ^H5927 from his thicket, ^H5441 and the destroyer ^H7843 of the Gentiles ^H1471 is on his way; ^H5265 he is gone forth ^H3318 from his place ^H4725 to make ^H7760 thy land ^H776 desolate; ^H8047 and thy cities ^H5892 shall be laid waste, ^H5327 without an inhabitant. ^H3427

⁸ For this gird ^H2296 you with sackcloth, ^H8242 lament ^H5594 and howl: ^H3213 for the fierce ^H2740 anger ^H639 of the LORD ^H3068 is not turned back ^H7725 from us.

⁹ And it shall come to pass at that day, ^H3117 saith ^H5002 the LORD, ^H3068 that the heart ^H3820 of the king ^H4428 shall perish, ^H6 and the heart ^H3820 of the princes; ^H8269 and the priests ^H3548 shall be astonished, ^H8074 and the prophets ^H5030 shall wonder. ^H8539

¹⁰ Then said ^H559 I, Ah, ^H162 Lord ^H136 GOD! ^H3069 surely ^H403 thou hast greatly ^H5377 deceived ^H5377 this people ^H5971 and Jerusalem, ^H3389 saying, ^H559 Ye shall have peace; ^H7965 whereas the sword ^H2719 reacheth ^H5060 unto the soul. ^H5315

¹¹ At that time ^H6256 shall it be said ^H559 to this people ^H5971 and to Jerusalem, ^H3389 A dry ^H6703 wind ^H7307 of the high places ^H8205 in the wilderness ^H4057 toward ^H1870 the daughter ^H1323 of my people, ^H5971 not to fan, ^H2219 nor to cleanse, ^H1305

¹² Even a full ^H4392 wind ^H7307 from those places shall come ^H935 unto me: now also will I give ^H1696 sentence ^H4941 against them.

¹³ Behold, he shall come up ^H5927 as clouds, ^H6051 and his chariots ^H4818 shall be as a whirlwind: ^H5492 his horses ^H5483 are swifter ^H7043 than eagles. ^H5404 Woe ^H188 unto us! for we are spoiled. ^H7703

¹⁴ O Jerusalem, ^H3389 wash ^H3526 thine heart ^H3820 from wickedness, ^H7451 that thou mayest be saved. ^H3467 How long shall thy vain ^H205 thoughts ^H4284 lodge ^H3885 within ^H7130 thee?

¹⁵ For a voice ^H6963 declareth ^H5046 from Dan, ^H1835 and publisheth ^H8085 affliction ^H205 from mount ^H2022 Ephraim. ^H669

¹⁶ Make ye mention ^H2142 to the nations; ^H1471 behold, publish ^H8085 against Jerusalem, ^H3389 that watchers ^H5341 come ^H935 from a far ^H4801 country, ^H776 and give out ^H5414 their voice ^H6963 against the cities ^H5892 of Judah. ^H3063

¹⁷ As keepers ^H8104 of a field, ^H7704 are they against her round about; ^H5439 because she hath been rebellious ^H4784 against me, saith ^H5002 the LORD. ^H3068

¹⁸ Thy way ^H1870 and thy doings ^H4611 have procured ^H6213 these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, ^H7451 because it is bitter, ^H4751 because it reacheth ^H5060 unto thine heart. ^H3820

¹⁹ My bowels, ^H4578 my bowels! ^H4578 I am pained ^{H2342 H3176} at my very ^H7023 heart; ^H3820 my heart ^H3820 maketh a noise ^H1993 in me; I cannot hold my peace, ^H2790 because thou hast heard, ^H8085 O my soul, ^H5315 the sound ^H6963 of the trumpet, ^H7782 the alarm ^H8643 of war. ^H4421

²⁰ Destruction ^H7667 upon destruction ^H7667 is cried; ^H7121 for the whole land ^H776 is spoiled: ^H7703 suddenly ^H6597 are my tents ^H168 spoiled, ^H7703 and my curtains ^H3407 in a moment. ^H7281

²¹ How long shall I see ^H7200 the standard, ^H5251 and hear ^H8085 the sound ^H6963 of the trumpet? ^H7782

²² For my people ^H5971 is foolish, ^H191 they have not known ^H3045 me; they are sottish ^H5530 children, ^H1121 and they have none understanding: ^H995 they are wise ^H2450 to do evil, ^H7489 but to do good ^H3190 they have no knowledge. ^H3045

²³ I beheld ^H7200 the earth, ^H776 and, lo, it was without form, ^H8414 and void; ^H922 and the heavens, ^H8064 and they had no light. ^H216

²⁴ I beheld ^H7200 the mountains, ^H2022 and, lo, they trembled, ^H7493 and all the hills ^H1389 moved lightly. ^H7043

²⁵ I beheld, ^H7200 and, lo, there was no man, ^H120 and all the birds ^H5775 of the heavens ^H8064 were fled. ^H5074

²⁶ I beheld, ^H7200 and, lo, the fruitful place ^H3759 was a wilderness, ^H4057 and all the cities ^H5892 thereof were broken down ^H5422 at the presence ^H6440 of the LORD, ^H3068 and by his fierce ^H2740 anger. ^H639

²⁷ For thus hath the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 The whole land ^H776 shall be desolate; ^H8077 yet will I not make ^H6213 a full end. ^H3617

²⁸ For this shall the earth ^H776 mourn, ^H56 and the heavens ^H8064 above ^H4605 be black: ^H6937 because I have spoken ^H1696 it, I have purposed ^H2161 it, and will not repent, ^H5162 neither will I turn back ^H7725 from it.

²⁹ The whole city ^H5892 shall flee ^H1272 for the noise ^H6963 of the horsemen ^H6571 and bowmen; ^{H7198 H7411} they shall go ^H935 into thickets, ^H5645 and climb up ^H5927 upon the rocks: ^H3710 every city ^H5892 shall be forsaken, ^H5800 and not a man ^H376 dwell ^H3427 therein. ^H2004

³⁰ And when thou art spoiled, ^H7703 what wilt thou do? ^H6213 Though thou clothest ^H3847 thyself with crimson, ^H8144 though thou deckest ^H5710 thee with ornaments ^H5716 of gold, ^H2091 though thou rentest ^H7167 thy face ^H5869 with painting, ^H6320 in vain ^H7723 shalt thou make thyself fair; ^H3302 thy lovers ^H5689 will despise ^H3988 thee, they will seek ^H1245 thy life. ^H5315

³¹ For I have heard ^H8085 a voice ^H6963 as of a woman in travail, ^H2470 and the anguish ^H6869 as of her that bringeth forth her first child, ^H1069 the voice ^H6963 of the daughter ^H1323 of Zion, ^H6726 that bewaileth ^H3306 herself, that spreadeth ^H6566 her hands, ^H3709 saying, Woe ^H188 is me now! for my soul ^H5315 is wearied ^H5888 because of murderers. ^H2026

---

¹ If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, if thou wilt return unto me, and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight; then shalt thou not be removed;

² and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

³ For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.

⁶ Set up a standard toward Zion: flee for safety, stay not; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

⁷ A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.

⁸ For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned back from us.

⁹ And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

¹⁰ Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the life.

¹¹ At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, nor to cleanse;

¹² a full wind from these shall come for me: now will I also utter judgments against them.

¹³ Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots `shall be' as the whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are ruined.

¹⁴ O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine evil thoughts lodge within thee?

¹⁵ For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth evil from the hills of Ephraim:

¹⁶ make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, `that' watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.

¹⁸ Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thy heart.

¹⁹ My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I cannot hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

²⁰ Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, `and' my curtains in a moment.

²¹ How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

²² For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

²³ I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved to and fro.

²⁵ I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

²⁶ I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Jehovah, `and' before his fierce anger.

²⁷ For thus saith Jehovah, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.

²⁸ For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.

²⁹ Every city fleeth for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they go into the thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwelleth therein.

³⁰ And thou, when thou art made desolate, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou enlargest thine eyes with paint, in vain dost thou make thyself fair; `thy' lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.

³¹ For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, `saying', Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.

---

¹ If thou dost turn back, O Israel, An affirmation of Jehovah, unto Me turn back, And if thou dost turn aside Thine abominations from My face, Then thou dost not bemoan.

² And thou hast sworn -- Jehovah liveth, In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, And blessed themselves in Him have nations, And in Him they boast themselves.

³ For thus said Jehovah, To the man of Judah, and to Jerusalem: Till for yourselves tillage, And do not sow unto the thorns.

⁴ Be circumcised to Jehovah, And turn aside the foreskins of your heart, O man of Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury go out as fire, and hath burned, And there is none quenching, Because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Declare in Judah, and in Jerusalem sound, And say ye, `Blow a trumpet in the land,' Call ye fully, and say ye: `Be gathered, and we go in to the fenced city.'

⁶ Lift up an ensign Zionward, Strengthen yourselves, stand not still, For evil I am bringing in from the north, And a great destruction.

⁷ Gone up hath a lion from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations hath journeyed, He hath come forth from his place To make thy land become a desolation, Thy cities are laid waste, without inhabitant.

⁸ For this, gird on sackcloth, lament and howl, For the fierce anger of Jehovah hath not turned back from us.

⁹ And it hath come to pass, in that day, An affirmation of Jehovah: `Perish doth the heart of the king, And the heart of the princes, And astonished have been the priests, And the prophets do wonder.'

¹⁰ And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, Surely thou hast entirely forgotten this people and Jerusalem, saying, Peace is for you, And struck hath a sword unto the soul!'

¹¹ At that time it is said of this people, And of Jerusalem: `A dry wind of high places in the wilderness,' The way of the daughter of My people, (Not for winnowing, nor for cleansing,)

¹² A full wind from these doth come for Me, Now, also, I speak judgments with them.

¹³ Lo, as clouds he cometh up, And as a hurricane his chariots, Lighter than eagles have been his horses, Wo to us, for we have been spoiled.

¹⁴ Wash from evil thy heart, O Jerusalem, That thou mayest be saved, Till when dost thou lodge in thy heart Thoughts of thy strength?

¹⁵ For a voice is declaring from Dan, And sounding sorrow from mount Ephraim.

¹⁶ Make ye mention to the nations, Lo, sound ye to Jerusalem: `Besiegers are coming from the land afar off, And they give forth against cities of Judah their voice.

¹⁷ As the keepers of a field They have been against her round about, For with Me she hath been rebellious, An affirmation of Jehovah.'

¹⁸ Thy way and thy doings have done these to thee, This `is' thy vexation, for `it is' bitter, For it hath struck unto thy heart.

¹⁹ My bowels, my bowels! I am pained `at' the walls of my heart, Make a noise for me doth My heart, I am not silent, For the voice of a trumpet I have heard, O my soul -- a shout of battle!

²⁰ Destruction on destruction is proclaimed, For spoiled hath been all the land, Suddenly spoiled have been my tents, In a moment -- my curtains.

²¹ Till when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a trumpet?

²² For my people `are' foolish, me they have not known, Foolish sons `are' they, yea, they `are' not intelligent, Wise `are' they to do evil, And to do good they have not known.

²³ I looked `to' the land, and lo, waste and void, And unto the heavens, and their light is not.

²⁴ I have looked `to' the mountains, And lo, they are trembling. And all the hills moved themselves lightly.

²⁵ I have looked, and lo, man is not, And all fowls of the heavens have fled.

²⁶ I have looked, and lo, The fruitful place `is' a wilderness, And all its cities have been broken down, Because of Jehovah, Because of the fierceness of His anger.

²⁷ For thus said Jehovah: All the land is a desolation, but a completion I make not.

²⁸ For this doth the land mourn, And black have been the heavens above, because I have spoken -- I have purposed, And I have not repented, Nor do I turn back from it.

²⁹ From the voice of the horseman, And of him shooting with the bow, all the city is fleeing, They have come into thickets, And on cliffs they have gone up, All the city is forsaken, And there is no one dwelling in them.

³⁰ And thou, O spoiled one, what dost thou? For thou puttest on scarlet, For thou adornest thyself `with' ornaments of gold. For thou rendest with pain thine eyes, In vain thou dost make thyself fair, Kicked against thee have doting ones, Thy life they do seek.

³¹ For a voice as of a sick woman I have heard, Distress, as of one bringing forth a first-born, The voice of the daughter of Zion, She bewaileth herself, she spreadeth out her hands, `Wo to me now, for weary is my soul of slayers!'

---

¹ If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, return unto me; and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not be a wanderer;

² -- and thou shalt in truth, in justice, and in righteousness swear, [As] Jehovah liveth! and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

³ For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up for you a fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves for Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my fury come forth like fire and burn, and there be none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Declare ye in Judah, and cause it to be heard in Jerusalem, and say, ... and blow the trumpet in the land, cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fenced cities.

⁶ Set up a banner toward Zion; take to flight, stay not! For I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction.

⁷ The lion is come up from his thicket, the destroyer of the nations is on his way; he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate; thy cities shall be laid waste, without inhabitant.

⁸ For this, gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl! for the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned away from us.

⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall be amazed.

¹⁰ And I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

¹¹ At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind [cometh] from the heights in the wilderness, on the way of the daughter of my people, not for fanning, nor for cleansing.

¹² A wind more vehement than that shall come from me: now will I also pronounce judgments against them.

¹³ Behold, he cometh up as clouds, and his chariots are as a whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are destroyed.

¹⁴ Wash thy heart, Jerusalem, from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

¹⁵ For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

¹⁶ Inform the nations; behold, make Jerusalem to hear: Besiegers come from a far country, and raise their voice against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ As keepers of a field are they against her round about; for she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.

¹⁸ Thy way and thy doings have procured these [things] unto thee; this is thy wickedness, yea, it is bitter, yea, it reacheth unto thy heart.

¹⁹ My bowels! my bowels! I am in travail! [Oh,] the walls of my heart! My heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace: for thou hearest, my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the clamour of war.

²⁰ Destruction upon destruction is proclaimed; for the whole land is wasted: suddenly are my tents laid waste, my curtains, in a moment.

²¹ How long shall I see the standard, [and] hear the sound of the trumpet?

²² For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have no intelligence; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

²³ I beheld the earth, and lo, it was waste and empty; and the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills shook violently.

²⁵ I beheld, and lo, man was not, and all the fowl of the heavens were fled.

²⁶ I beheld, and lo, the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down, before Jehovah, before his fierce anger.

²⁷ For thus saith Jehovah: The whole land shall be a desolation; but I will not make a full end.

²⁸ For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back therefrom.

²⁹ At the noise of the horsemen and bowmen, every city fleeth; they go into the thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city is forsaken and no man dwelleth therein.

³⁰ -- And thou, wasted one, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rendest thine eyes with paint, in vain dost thou make thyself fair: [thy] lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.

³¹ For I hear a voice, as of a woman in travail, anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion: she moaneth, she spreadeth forth her hands, [saying], Woe unto me! for my soul faileth because of murderers.

---

¹ If you will return, Israel, says Yahweh, if you will return to me, and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight; then you shall not be removed;

² and you shall swear, As Yahweh lives, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

³ For thus says Yahweh to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and don't sow among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Declare you in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow you the trumpet in the land: cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.

⁶ Set up a standard toward Zion: flee for safety, don't stay; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

⁷ A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.

⁸ For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Yahweh hasn't turned back from us.

⁹ It shall happen at that day, says Yahweh, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.

¹⁰ Then said I, Ah, Lord Yahweh! surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You shall have peace; whereas the sword reaches to the life.

¹¹ At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, nor to cleanse;

¹² a full wind from these shall come for me: now will I also utter judgments against them.

¹³ Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots [shall be] as the whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! for we are ruined.

¹⁴ Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

¹⁵ For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes evil from the hills of Ephraim:

¹⁶ make you mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, [that] watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she has been rebellious against me, says Yahweh.

¹⁸ Your way and your doings have procured these things to you; this is your wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reaches to your heart.

¹⁹ My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I can't hold my peace; because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

²⁰ Destruction on destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, [and] my curtains in a moment.

²¹ How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?

²² For my people are foolish, they don't know me; they are foolish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

²³ I saw the earth, and, behold, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

²⁴ I saw the mountains, and, behold, they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth.

²⁵ I saw, and, behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the sky were fled.

²⁶ I saw, and, behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities of it were broken down at the presence of Yahweh, [and] before his fierce anger.

²⁷ For thus says Yahweh, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.

²⁸ For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.

²⁹ Every city flees for the noise of the horsemen and archers; they go into the thickets, and climb up on the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwells therein.

³⁰ You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck you with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain do you make yourself beautiful; [your] lovers despise you, they seek your life.

³¹ For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, [saying], Woe is me now! for my soul faints before the murderers.

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¹ If you will come back, O Israel, says the Lord, you will come back to me: and if you will put away your disgusting ways, you will not be sent away from before me.

² And you will take your oath, By the living Lord, in good faith and wisdom and righteousness; and the nations will make use of you as a blessing, and in you will they take a pride.

³ For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: Get your unworked land ploughed up, do not put in your seeds among thorns.

⁴ Undergo a circumcision of the heart, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem: or my wrath may come out like fire, burning so that no one is able to put it out, because of the evil of your doings.

⁵ Say openly in Judah, give it out in Jerusalem, and say, Let the horn be sounded in the land: crying out in a loud voice, Come together, and let us go into the walled towns.

⁶ Put up a flag for a sign to Zion: go in flight so that you may be safe, waiting no longer: for I will send evil from the north, and a great destruction.

⁷ A lion has gone up from his secret place in the woods, and one who makes waste the nations is on his way; he has gone out from his place, to make your land unpeopled, so that your towns will be made waste, with no man living in them.

⁸ For this put on haircloth, with weeping and loud crying: for the burning wrath of the Lord is not turned back from us.

⁹ And it will come about in that day, says the Lord, that the heart of the king will be dead in him, and the hearts of the rulers; and the priests will be overcome with fear, and the prophets with wonder.

¹⁰ Then said I, Ah, Lord God! your words were not true when you said to this people and to Jerusalem, You will have peace; when the sword has come even to the soul.

¹¹ At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A burning wind from the open hilltops in the waste land is blowing on the daughter of my people, not for separating or cleaning the grain;

¹² A full wind will come for me: and now I will give my decision against them.

¹³ See, he will come up like the clouds, and his war-carriages like the storm-wind: his horses are quicker than eagles. Sorrow is ours, for destruction has come on us.

¹⁴ O Jerusalem, make your heart clean from evil, so that you may have salvation. How long are evil purposes to have a resting-place in you?

¹⁵ For a voice is sounding from Dan, giving out evil from the hills of Ephraim:

¹⁶ Make this come to the minds of the nations, make a statement openly against Jerusalem, that attackers are coming from a far country and their voices will be loud against the towns of Judah.

¹⁷ Like keepers of a field they are against her on every side; because she has been fighting against me, says the Lord.

¹⁸ Your ways and your doings have made these things come on you; this is your sin; truly it is bitter, going deep into your heart.

¹⁹ My soul, my soul! I am pained to my inmost heart; my heart is troubled in me; I am not able to be quiet, because the sound of the horn, the note of war, has come to my ears.

²⁰ News is given of destruction on destruction; all the land is made waste: suddenly my tents, straight away my curtains, are made waste.

²¹ How long will I go on seeing the flag and hearing the sound of the war-horn?

²² For my people are foolish, they have no knowledge of me; they are evil-minded children, without sense, all of them: they are wise in evil-doing, but have no knowledge of doing good.

²³ Looking at the earth, I saw that it was waste and without form; and to the heavens, that they had no light.

²⁴ Looking at the mountains, I saw them shaking, and all the hills were moved about.

²⁵ Looking, I saw that there was no man, and all the birds of heaven had gone in flight.

²⁶ Looking, I saw that the fertile field was a waste, and all its towns were broken down before the Lord and before his burning wrath.

²⁷ For this is what the Lord has said: All the land will become a waste; I will make destruction complete.

²⁸ The earth will be weeping for this, and the heavens on high will be black: because I have said it, and I will not go back from it; it is my purpose, and it will not be changed.

²⁹ All the land is in flight because of the noise of the horsemen and the bowmen; they have taken cover in the woodland and up on the rocks: every town has been given up, not a man is living in them.

³⁰ And you, when you are made waste, what will you do? Though you are clothed in red, though you make yourself beautiful with ornaments of gold, though you make your eyes wide with paint, it is for nothing that you make yourself fair; your lovers have no more desire for you, they have designs on your life.

³¹ A voice has come to my ears like the voice of a woman in birth-pains, the pain of one giving birth to her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, fighting for breath, stretching out her hands, saying, Now sorrow is mine! for my strength is gone from me before the takers of life.