Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 6

Yahushalam’s Last Warning

1 “Run for your lives, you people of Banyamin! Get out of Yahushalam! Sound the alarm in Takua! Send up a signal at Beth-hakkaram! A powerful army is coming from the north, coming with disaster and destruction.

2 O Yahushalam, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter, but I will destroy you!

3 Enemies will surround you, like shepherds camped around the city, Each chooses a place for his troops to devour.

4 They shout, ‘Prepare for battle! Attack at noon!’ ‘No, it’s too late; the day is fading,    and the evening shadows are falling.’

5 ‘Well then, let’s attack at night and destroy her palaces!’”

6 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  Tsaba'ut Dabar, “Cut down the trees for battering rams, Build siege ramps against the walls of Yahushalam, this is the city to be punished, for she is wicked through and through.

7 She spouts evil like a fountain, Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction, I always see her sickness and sores.

8 Listen to this warning, Yahushalam, or I will turn from you in disgust, Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins, a land where no one lives.”

9 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  Tsaba'ut Dabar: “Even the few who remain in Yashar'AL will be picked over again, as when a harvester checks each vine a second time to pick the grapes that were missed.”

Yahudah’s Constant Rebellion

10 To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear, they scorn the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH They do not want to listen at all

11 So now I am filled with  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s fury, Yes, I am tired of holding it in! “I will pour out my fury on children playing in the streets and on gatherings of young men, on husbands and wives and on those who are old and gray.

12 Their homes will be turned over to their enemies, as will their fields and their wives, for I will raise my powerful fist against the people of this land, says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

13 “From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed, from Nabyms to Kuhanym, they are all frauds.

14 They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound, they give assurances of Shalum when there is no Shalum.

15 Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all, they do not even know how to behave! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered, They will be brought down when I punish them,” says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

Yahudah Rejects YAHUAH’s Way

16 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “Stop at the crossroads and look around, Ask for the old righteous way, and walk in it, Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’

17 I posted watchmen over you who said,    ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We will not pay attention!’

18 “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations. Take note of my people’s situation.

19 Listen, all the Arath! I will bring disaster on my people, It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me. They have rejected my Dabar.

20 There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Shaba, Keep your fragrant imported from distant lands! I will not accept your burnt offerings, Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”

21 Therefore, this is what  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “I will put obstacles in my people’s path, Fathers and sons will both fall over them, Neighbors and friends will die together.”

An Invasion from the North

22 This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: “Look! A great army coming from the north! a great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.

23 They are armed with bows and spears.    They are cruel and show no mercy, they sound like a roaring sea as they ride forward on horses, they are coming in battle formation, planning to destroy you, beautiful Yahushalam.”

24 We have heard reports about the enemy, and we wring our hands in fright, Pangs of anguish have gripped us, like those of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out to the fields! Do not travel on the roads! The enemy’s sword is everywhere and terrorizes us at every turn!

26 Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap and sit among the ashes, Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son, For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!

27 Yaramyahu, I have made you a tester of metals, that you may determine the quality of my people.

28 They are the worst kind of rebel, full of slander, they are as hard as bronze and iron, and they lead others into corruption.

29 The bellows fiercely fan the flames to burn out the corruption, but it does not purify them, for the wickedness remains.

30 I will label them ‘Rejected Silver,’ for I 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, I Am discarding them.”