22 This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming

from the land of the north;

a great nation is being stirred up

from the ends of the earth.

23 They are armed with bow and spear;

they are cruel and show no mercy.

They sound like the roaring sea

as they ride on their horses;

they come like men in battle formation

to attack you, Daughter Zion.”

24 We have heard reports about them,

and our hands hang limp.

Anguish has gripped us,

pain like that of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out to the fields

or walk on the roads,

for the enemy has a sword,

and there is terror on every side.

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.

22 This is what the Lord says:

“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 Jerusalem.”

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 Don’t go out to the fields!

Don’t travel on the roads!

The enemy’s sword is everywhere

and terrorizes us at every turn!

22 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, a people comes from the north country,

And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.

23 They will lay hold on bow and spear;

They are cruel and have no mercy;

Their voice roars like the sea;

And they ride on horses,

As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard the report of it;

Our hands grow feeble.

Anguish has taken hold of us,

Pain as of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out into the field,

Nor walk by the way.

Because of the sword of the enemy,

Fear is on every side.

22 This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming

from the land of the north;

a great nation is coming

from the far sides of the earth.

23 The soldiers carry bows and spears.

They are cruel and show no mercy.

They sound like the roaring ocean

when they ride their horses.

That army is coming lined up for battle,

ready to attack you, Jerusalem.”

24 We have heard the news about that army

and are helpless from fear.

We are gripped by our pain,

like a woman having a baby.

25 Don’t go out into the fields

or walk down the roads,

because the enemy has swords.

There is terror on every side.

22 Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 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, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion. 24 We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pangs 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 terror, are on every side.

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. 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. 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. 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.

22 This is what the Lord says: 

An army is going to come from the north. 

A great nation is preparing itself in the distant parts of the earth. 

23 Its people take hold of bows and spears. 

They are cruel and have no compassion. 

They sound like the roaring sea. 

They ride on horses. 

They march like soldiers ready for battle 

against my people Zion. 

24 We have heard the news about them. 

Our hands hang limp. 

We are gripped by anguish and pain 

like a woman giving birth to a child. 

25 Don’t go into the field or walk on the road. 

The enemy has a sword. 

Terror is all around. 

22 This is what the Lord says:

Look, an army is coming from a northern land;

a great nation will be awakened

from the remote regions of the earth.

23 They grasp bow and javelin.

They are cruel and show no mercy.

Their voice roars like the sea,

and they ride on horses,

lined up like men in battle formation

against you, Daughter Zion.

24 We have heard about it,

and we are discouraged.

Distress has seized us—

pain like a woman in labor.

25 Don’t go out to the fields;

don’t walk on the road.

For the enemy has a sword;

terror is on every side.

22 Thus says the Lord:

See, a people is coming from the land of the north,

a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.

23 They grasp the bow and the javelin,

they are cruel and have no mercy,

their sound is like the roaring sea;

they ride on horses,

equipped like a warrior for battle,

against you, O daughter Zion!

24 “We have heard news of them,

our hands fall helpless;

anguish has taken hold of us,

pain as of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out into the field,

or walk on the road;

for the enemy has a sword,

terror is on every side.”

22 Thus says Yahweh:

“Look, a people is coming from the land of the north,

a great nation is woken up from the farthest part of the earth.

23 The bow and the short sword they grasp are cruel,

and they show no mercy.

Their sound roars like the sea, and on horses they ride,

drawn up like a man for battle against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard news of it,

our hands grow slack,

anxiety has grasped us,

pain as a woman who gives birth.

25 You must not go out into the field,

and you must not walk on the road,

for the enemy has a sword,

terror is all around.

22 The Lord says to Jerusalem,

“Look! An army is coming

from the land of the north.

I am stirring up a great nation.

Its army is coming from a land that is very far away.

23 Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears.

They are mean. They do not show any mercy at all.

They come riding in on their horses.

They sound like the roaring ocean.

They are lined up for battle.

They are marching out

to attack you, city of Zion.”

24 We have heard reports about them.

And our hands can’t help us.

We are suffering greatly.

It’s like the pain of a woman having a baby.

25 Don’t go out to the fields.

Don’t walk on the roads.

Our enemies have swords.

And there is terror on every side.

22 Thus says the Lord,

“Behold, a people is coming from the north land,

And a great nation will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth.

23 “They seize bow and spear;

They are cruel and have no mercy;

Their voice roars like the sea,

And they ride on horses,

Arrayed as a man for the battle

Against you, O daughter of Zion!”

24 We have heard the report of it;

Our hands are limp.

Anguish has seized us,

Pain as of a woman in childbirth.

25 Do not go out into the field

And do not walk on the road,

For the enemy has a sword,

Terror is on every side.