1 Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a signal in Beth-haccerem; for evil appeareth out of the north, and a great destruction.

1 הָעִ֣זוּ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן¹ מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּבִתְקֹ֙ועַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שֹׁופָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפֹ֖ון וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֹֽול׃

2 The comely and delicate one do I cut off, the daughter of Zion.

2 הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

3 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.

3 אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֹֽו׃

4 Prepare war against her. Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day hath declined, for the shadows of the evening are lengthening.

4 קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם אֹ֥וי לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּי־פָנָ֣ה הַיֹּ֔ום כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב׃

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

5 ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנֹותֶֽיהָ׃

6 For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said: Hew ye down trees, and cast a mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

6 כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔ה וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם סֹלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הָפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃

7 As a well poureth forth her waters, so she poureth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction are heard in her; before me continually are grief and wounds.

7 כְּהָקִ֥יר בְּוֵר בַּ֙יִר֙ מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה׃

8 Be thou instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

8 הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥וא נֹושָֽׁבָה׃

9 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: They shall thoroughly glean like a vine the remnant of Israel: turn back thy hand, as a grape-gatherer unto the baskets.

9 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות עֹולֵ֛ל יְעֹולְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבֹוצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלֹּֽות׃

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

10 עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו׃

11 And I am full of the fury of Jehovah, I am weary with holding in. Pour it out upon the children in the street, 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.

11 וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה׀ מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עֹולָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל סֹ֥וד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים׃

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

12 וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂדֹ֥ות וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

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.

13 כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדֹולָ֔ם כֻּלֹּ֖ו בֹּוצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלֹּ֖ו עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃

14 And they have healed the breach of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace! when there is no peace.

14 וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום׀ שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃

15 Are they ashamed that they have committed abomination? Nay, they are not at all ashamed, neither know they what it is to blush. Therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall stumble, saith Jehovah.

15 הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תֹועֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בֹּ֣ושׁ לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֗ושׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

16 Thus saith Jehovah: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the ancient paths, which is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].

16 כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ׀ לִנְתִבֹ֣ות עֹולָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטֹּוב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגֹּ֖ועַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃

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

17 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְקֹ֣ול שֹׁופָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃

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

18 לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגֹּויִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם׃

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts; for they have not hearkened unto my words, and as to my law, they have rejected it.

19 שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבֹותָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתֹורָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ׃

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

20 לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ֔וא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצֹ֔ון וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃

21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall over them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

21 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָבֹ֨ות וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵעֹ֖ו יֹאבֵדוּ וְאָבָֽדוּ׃

22 Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation is stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

22 כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֑ון וְגֹ֣וי גָּדֹ֔ול יֵעֹ֖ור מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

23 They 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 a man for the battle, against thee, daughter of Zion.

23 קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ון יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קֹולָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

24 We have heard the report thereof: our hands are grown feeble; anguish hath taken hold of us, pain as of a woman that travaileth.

24 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְעֹ֖ו רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיֹּולֵדָֽה׃

25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for [there is] the sword of the enemy, terror is on every side.

25 אַל־ תֵּצְאִי תֵּֽצְאוּ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־ תֵּלֵכִי תֵּלֵ֑כוּ כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָגֹ֖ור מִסָּבִֽיב׃

26 Daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes: make mourning, [as] for an only son -- bitter lamentation; for the spoiler cometh suddenly upon us.

26 בַּת־עַמִּ֤י חִגְרִי־שָׂק֙ וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י בָאֵ֔פֶר אֵ֤בֶל יָחִיד֙ עֲשִׂ֣י לָ֔ךְ מִסְפַּ֖ד תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים כִּ֣י פִתְאֹ֔ם יָבֹ֥א הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד עָלֵֽינוּ׃

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

27 בָּחֹ֛ון נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃

28 They are all the most rebellious of rebels, going about with slander: they are bronze and iron; they are all corrupters.

28 כֻּלָּם֙ סָרֵ֣י סֹֽורְרִ֔ים הֹלְכֵ֥י רָכִ֖יל נְחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל כֻּלָּ֥ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃

29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; they have melted, and melted in vain; and the bad are not plucked away.

29 נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מֵאִשְׁתַּם מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָרֹ֔וף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃

30 Reprobate silver shall they call them, for Jehovah hath rejected them.

30 כֶּ֣סֶף נִמְאָ֔ס קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מָאַ֥ס יְהוָ֖ה בָּהֶֽם׃