Jeremiah 6
Ask for the Ancient Paths and Walk in Them
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Flee, Sons of Benjamin
6:1Take courage, sons of Benjamin, from within Jerusalem, and signal with a trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a sign above Beth-haccherem, because evils have looked out from the north, and great crushing is taking place,
6:2and your height will be taken away, daughter of Zion.
6:3Shepherds and their flocks will come to her, and they will pitch tents against her all around, and each will shepherd with his own hand.
6:4Prepare yourselves for war against her! Rise, and let us go up against her at noon! Woe to us, because the day has declined, because evening’s shadows are failing!
6:5Rise, and let us go up in the night and destroy her foundations!
6:6For thus says the Lord: Cut down her trees; pour out a force upon Jerusalem. O false city, all oppression is within her!
6:7As a cistern cools water, so her evil cools; impiety and misery will be heard in her, continually before her. With pain and scourging
6:8you will be instructed, Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from you, lest I make you an impassable land that will not be inhabited.
Glean Israel’s Remnant
6:9For thus says the Lord: Glean, glean Israel’s remnants like a vine; turn back like the grape-gatherer to his basket.
6:10To whom shall I speak and testify, and he will hear? Look, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear. Look, the Lord’s utterance became a reproach to them; they certainly will not wish to hear it.
6:11And I filled up My fury and held back and did not bring them to an end. I will pour it upon little children outside and upon a gathering of young men together, because man and woman will be seized, the elder with one full of days.
6:12And their houses will be transferred to others, fields and their wives together, because I will stretch out My hand against those dwelling in this land, says the Lord.
6:13For from their small to their great, all have carried out lawless deeds; from priest to false prophet, all have done false things.
6:14And they treated My people’s fracture with contempt, saying, ‘Peace, peace’; and where is peace?
6:15They were put to shame because they failed, and even so they were not at all ashamed and did not recognize their dishonor. Therefore they will fall in their fall, and at the time of their visitation they will perish, said the Lord.
Stand on the Roads and See
6:16Thus says the Lord: Stand on the roads and see, and ask for the Lord’s eternal paths and see which is the good way, and walk in it, and you will find purification for your souls. And they said, ‘We will not go.’
6:17I have appointed watchers over you: Hear the trumpet’s sound! And they said, ‘We will not hear.’
6:18Therefore the nations heard, and those shepherding their flocks.
6:19Hear, earth! Look, I am bringing evils upon this people, the fruit of their turning away, because they did not attend to My words and rejected My law.
6:20Why do you bring Me frankincense from Sheba and cinnamon from a distant land? Your whole burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices did not please Me.
6:21Therefore thus says the Lord: Look, I am placing weakness upon this people, and fathers and sons together will become weak in it; neighbor and his neighbor will perish.
A People Comes from the North
6:22Thus says the Lord: Look, a people comes from the north, and nations will be roused from the earth’s extremity.
6:23They will grasp bow and spear; it is ruthless and will show no mercy. Its voice is like a surging sea; on horses and chariots it will draw up like fire for war against you, daughter of Zion.
6:24We heard the report of them; our hands were paralyzed. Affliction seized us, labor pains like a woman giving birth.
6:25Do not go out into a field or walk on the roads, because the enemies’ sword dwells all around.
6:26Daughter of My people, gird yourself with sackcloth; sprinkle yourself with ashes. Make mourning for yourself for a beloved one, a pitiful lament, because misery will suddenly come upon you.
A Tester Among Tested Peoples
6:27I have made you a tester among tested peoples, and you will know Me when I test their way.
6:28All are unheeding, walking crookedly, bronze and iron; all are corrupted.
6:29The bellows failed from the fire; the lead failed. In vain the silversmith works silver; their wickedness was not melted away.
6:30Call them rejected silver, because the Lord rejected them.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.