Jeremiah 6

1 “Run for cover [flee for safety, take refuge], O sons [descendants, children] of Benjamin [son of the right hand]; flee from [out of the midst of] Jerusalem [the city of peace]! Sound [blow] the ram’s horn [trumpet] in Tekoa [a town in Judah]; send up [raise, lift] a signal [a sign of fire, a warning] over Beth-haccherem [the house of the vineyard], for disaster [evil, calamity] looms [appears, is seen] from the north [the direction of Zaphon], even great [large, significant] destruction [breaking, shattering]. word study 2 Though she is [lovely, pleasant to behold] beautiful and delicate [soft], I will [utterly destroy, cut off] destroy the [comely, delightful one] Daughter [female child, or woman] of [the mountain in Jerusalem, God’s holy city] Zion. word study 3 Shepherds [pastors, caregivers] and their flocks [groups of people, congregations] will come against her; they will pitch [set up, establish] their tents [temporary dwellings, places of refuge] all around her, each [every individual, man] tending [caring for, feeding] his own portion [allotted area, responsibility]: word study 4 ‘Prepare for battle [sanctify war] against her; rise up [arise, stand], let us attack [go up] at noon [midday, when the sun is high]. Woe [alas, oh no] to us, for the daylight [day] is fading [declining, turning away]; the evening [sunset] shadows [darkness, shade] grow long [are stretched out]. word study 5 Rise up [arise, stand up], let us attack [go up, ascend] by [in the darkness of] night [the time of darkness] and destroy [ruin, tear down] her fortresses [palaces, citadels]!’” word study 6 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “Cut down [hew, destroy] the trees [timber, wood] and raise [cast up] a siege ramp [mound, bank] against Jerusalem [the city of peace]. This city [town, place with a wall] must be punished [visited, overseen]; there is nothing but [wholly, all] oppression [injury, fraud, unjust gain] in her midst [inner part, entrails]. word study 7 As a well [spring, fountain] gushes its water, so she pours out her [moral] evil [wickedness, badness]. Violence [cruelty, injustice] and destruction [spoil, ruin] resound in her; sickness [disease, affliction] and wounds [blows, defeats] are ever before Me [continually, always in My presence]. word study 8 Be forewarned [instructed, undergo teaching], O Jerusalem [the city of peace], or I will turn away [depart, be alienated] from you; I will make you a desolation [a waste, desolate], a land [country, territory] without [not] inhabitant [one who dwells, remains].” word study 9 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, large groups] says: “Glean [thoroughly gather, like a grape gatherer] the remnant [what is left, a small remaining part] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] as thoroughly as a vine [a grapevine]. Pass your hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] once more like a grape gatherer [one who harvests grapes] over the branches [twigs, or a basket made from woven shoots].” word study 10 To whom can I give this warning [to speak and testify, that they may hear]? Who will listen to me [who will hear and obey]? Look, their ears are closed [uncircumcised, unable to hear], so they cannot hear [listen and obey]. See, the word of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has become [turned into] offensive [a reproach, shameful] to them; they find no pleasure [do not delight] in it [the message, the truth]. word study 11 But I am full [completely filled, overflowing] of the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] wrath [intense anger, rage]; I am tired [weary, exhausted] of holding it back [restraining, containing]. “Pour it out [shed, unleash] on the children [infants, young ones] in the street [outside, in public], and on the young men [youth, chosen ones] gathered together [united, in assembly]. For both husband [man, male] and wife [woman, female] will be captured [seized, taken], the old [elderly, aged] and the very old [full of days, advanced in years] alike [together, as one]. word study 12 Their houses [dwelling places, homes] will be turned over [given, handed] to others [strangers, different people], their fields [lands, properties] and wives [women, spouses] as well, for I will stretch out [extend, reach] My hand [power, authority] against the inhabitants [dwellers, residents] of the land [earth, country],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 13 “For from the least [smallest, most insignificant] of them to the greatest [most important, prominent], all [every single one, without exception] are greedy for gain [covetous, seeking unjust profit]; from prophet [one who speaks for God] to priest [spiritual leader, mediator], all [every single one, without exception] practice deceit [deal falsely, act with dishonesty, deception or falsehood]. word study 14 They dress [heal superficially, give little care to] the wound [breaking, shattering] of My people [nation, Amaw] with very little care [lightly, with contempt], saying [to speak, command], ‘Peace [shalom, completeness, wellness], peace,’ when there is [exists, is present] no [nothing, not] peace [true harmony, friendship] at all. word study 15 Are they ashamed [of their sinful actions, having no regret] of the abomination [disgusting, detestable thing] they have committed [done, carried out]? No, they have no shame [remorse, guilt] at all; they do not even know how [are unable, lack the capacity] to blush [show shame, be humiliated]. So they will fall [be defeated, stumble] among the fallen [those who have failed, been defeated]; when I punish [visit, reckon with] them, they will collapse [be cast down, stumble],” says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 16 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Stand [take your position, be stationary] at the crossroads [the intersection of paths, a place of decision] and look [see, observe, and consider]. Ask for the ancient [old, long-standing] paths [roads, ways of life]: ‘Where is the good [pleasant, beneficial] way [road, path, manner of life]?’ Then walk [go, proceed, conduct yourself] in it, and you will find [discover, attain] rest [a place of calm, tranquility] for your souls [the essence of your being, your inner life]. But they said, ‘We will not walk [go, proceed, conduct ourselves] in it [this path, this way of life]!’ word study 17 I appointed [set in place, established] watchmen [guards, sentinels] over you and said, ‘Listen [give attention, heed] for the sound [voice, call] of the ram’s horn [trumpet].’ [a signal to warn or summon] But they answered, ‘We will not listen [refuse to hear, disobey]!’ word study 18 Therefore [so, thus, in agreement] hear [listen and obey], O nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], and learn [know, ascertain by seeing], O congregations, what [which, that thing] will happen [is among, befall] to them. word study 19 Hear, O earth [land, territory]! I am bringing disaster [evil, calamity] on this people [nation, community], the fruit [result, consequence] of their own schemes [thoughts, plans], because they have paid no attention [have not listened, have ignored] to My word [instruction, message] and have rejected [spurned, refused] My instruction [law, teachings]. word study 20 What use [to what purpose, of what benefit] to Me is frankincense [a white resin, fragrant incense] from Sheba [a region in southern Arabia] or sweet cane [calamus, a fragrant spice] from a distant [far away, remote] land? Your burnt offerings [sacrifices, acts of worship] are not acceptable [pleasing, favorable]; your sacrifices [offerings, gifts to God] do not please [are not agreeable, do not delight] Me.” word study 21 Therefore this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “I will lay [put, set, give] stumbling blocks [obstacles, hindrances] before this people [nation, community]; fathers [ancestors, patriarchs] and sons [descendants, children] alike will be staggered [stumble, fall]; friends [neighbors, companions] and neighbors [fellow citizens, those living nearby] will perish [be destroyed, lost, come to an end].” word study 22 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Behold [look, see], an army [a people, a nation] is coming from the land [country, territory] of the north [Zaphon, a direction or location]; a great [large, powerful] nation [Gentile, a non-Hebrew or non-Israeli people] is stirred up [roused, awakened] from the ends [sides, flanks] of the earth [land, ground]. word study 23 They grasp the bow [a symbol of strength] and [javelin, a type of spear] spear; they are cruel [harsh and unkind] and [without mercy, showing no compassion] merciless. Their voice [roars like the sea, a loud and powerful sound] roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses [chariot horses], lined up [like men in formation, arranged for battle] like men in formation against you, O [Daughter of Zion, a title for Jerusalem] Daughter of Zion.” word study 24 We have heard [with attention and obedience] the report [news, fame]; our hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] hang limp [are feeble, wax feeble]. Anguish [agony, intense pain] has gripped [seized, taken hold] us, pain [sorrow, distress] like that of a woman [in travail, giving birth] in labor [childbirth, travail]. word study 25 Do not [under no circumstances] go out to the fields [or countryside]; do not [refrain from] walk the road [or path]. For the enemy [or adversary] has a sword [a cutting instrument]; terror [or fear, dread] is on every side [surrounding, encompassing]. word study 26 O daughter [a female child or woman] of my people, dress yourselves in [coarse] sackcloth [a coarse cloth or sack] and roll in ashes [a sign of worthlessness or sadness]. Mourn with bitter [intensely sorrowful] wailing, as you would for an only [beloved or unique] son, for suddenly [happening quickly or unexpectedly] the destroyer [one who ruins or devastates] will come upon us. word study 27 “I have appointed [set, given] you to examine [test, try] My people [nation, Amaw] like ore [metal, as a trier], so you may know [ascertain, perceive] and try [examine, prove] their ways [path, manner of life]. word study 28 All [every single one, without exception] are hardened [stubborn, unyielding] rebels [revolters, turning away], walking [going, proceeding] around as [in the manner of] slanderers [spreaders of false information, rumor mongers]. They are [like, comparable to] bronze [copper, base metal] and iron [strong, harsh metal]; all [every one, collectively] of them are [characterized as] corrupt [depraved, ruined, destroyers]. word study 29 The bellows [blowing fiercely, burned] blow fiercely, blasting away the lead [a heavy metal, impurities] with fire [refining flame, purification]. The refining [process, to purify] proceeds in vain [to no purpose, useless], for the wicked [bad, evil] are not purged [cleansed, refined, torn away]. word study 30 They are called [reprobate, refuse, waste] rejected silver [silver; money, a price], because the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has rejected [spurned, kicked against] them [because of their spiritual condition].” word study