Jeremiah

Warnings about Jerusalem's destruction due to unfaithfulness, with promises of a new covenant.

Chapter 6

1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

*Children of Benjamin, come together to leave Jerusalem quickly. Blow the trumpet in Tekoa and put up a warning fire in Bethhaccerem. Evil is coming from the north, bringing huge damage.

2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

*I've compared the girl from Zion city to a beautiful and gentle lady.

3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

*Shepherds and their sheep will come to her. They'll set up camps all around. Each person will feed their sheep in their own spot.

4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

*Get ready to fight against her; wake up and let's go at midday. Oh no! Time is running out, the evening shadows are getting longer.

5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

*Get up, and let's leave at night to destroy her big houses.

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.

*So, the Lord says, "Cut down trees and build a hill against Jerusalem. This city will be punished because it's full of unfairness."

7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.

*Just like a fountain releases water, she releases wickedness too. She has constant violence and destruction. All I hear from her is sadness and pain.

8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

*Listen carefully, Jerusalem, so I don't leave you; otherwise, I will make your land empty and uninhabited.

9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

*So says the Lord, the God with many armies, they will carefully gather the remaining people of Israel like grapes: collect what you have gathered like someone picking grapes and put them in the baskets.

10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

*To whom should I talk and warn so they can listen? But they can't, because their ears aren't able to hear. They don't like God's word; it's embarrassing to them and brings them no joy.

11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

*So, I'm very angry on behalf of God; I can't hold it in anymore. I will let it out on people far away and on groups of young people. Even married couples and older people will be affected, along with those who have lived a long life.

12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

*Their homes, lands, and wives will belong to others: I will take action against the people in this land, says God.

13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

*everyone, from the smallest person to the greatest, has a desire for more things. And even people who are supposed to be honest, like prophets and priests, sometimes tell lies or act dishonestly.

14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

*They slightly healed the pain of my people's child, saying, "Peace, peace," but there is actually no peace.

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

*Did they feel embarrassed after doing something terrible? No, they didn't feel any shame or could blush. So, they will fall with those who fail. When I punish them, they will be brought down, says the Lord.

16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

*So God says, "Stand in the roads and look around. Ask for the ancient ways where the good path is. Walk on that path and you'll find peace for your hearts. But they replied, "We won't walk on it."

17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

*I also put watchmen to warn you, telling you to listen to the trumpet's sound. But they replied, We won't listen.

18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

*So listen, countries, and understand, people group, what's happening with them.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

*Listen, Earth! I'm going to bring harm to these people, it's the result of their thoughts. They didn't listen to my teachings or my rules; instead, they rejected them.

20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

*Why does fragrant incense come to me from a distant land, and delicious sugarcane from far away? Your burned offerings are not pleasing, and your sacrifices aren't sweet to me.

21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

*So, God says, "I will place obstacles for these people. Both parents and children will stumble on them together, and neighbors and friends will all be harmed."

22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

*So, God says, "Look, a group of people is coming from a far-off northern place, and a huge nation will arise from different parts of the world."

23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

*They will grab bows and spears. They are harsh and show no kindness. Their voices sound like loud waves. They ride on horses, ready for battle, preparing to fight you, daughter of Zion.

24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

*We heard about its reputation: our hands feel weak: distress has grabbed us, along with pain, like a woman having a difficult birth.

25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

*Don't go outside to the fields or walk along the paths; enemies are all around with swords and fear.

26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

*Dear daughter, tie on a rough cloth and roll around in ash. Act very sad, like you lost your only child. Cry a lot because a destructive force is coming soon.

27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

*I've made you a strong protection and a stronghold among my people so you can understand and test their actions.

28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

*They are all serious rebels, walking with lies: they are like hard metals; they are all corrupting influences.

29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

*The bellows catch fire, the lead melts from the heat; the metalworker tries hard but fails: because bad people aren't punished.

30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

*People will call these worthless silver, because God has rejected them.

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