that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they
roar, yet can they not pass over it?
[23] But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are
revolted and gone.
[24] Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth
rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
[25]
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
[26]
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they
catch men.
[27] As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become
great, and waxen rich.
[28] They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they
judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they
not judge.
[29] Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such
a nation as this?
[30] A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
[31] The prophets prophesy
falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in
the end thereof?
Jer.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 Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and
great destruction.
[2] I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
[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.
[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.
[5] Arise, and let us go by
night, and let us destroy her palaces.
[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.
[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.
[8] Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul
depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[14] They have healed also the hurt of
the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is 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.
[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.
[17] Also I
set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
[18]
Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among 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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[25] Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the
enemy and fear is on every side.
[26] O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow