1 “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!

Flee from Jerusalem!

Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!

Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!

For disaster looms out of the north,

even terrible destruction.

2 I will destroy Daughter Zion,

so beautiful and delicate.

3 Shepherds with their flocks will come against her;

they will pitch their tents around her,

each tending his own portion.”

4 “Prepare for battle against her!

Arise, let us attack at noon!

But, alas, the daylight is fading,

and the shadows of evening grow long.

5 So arise, let us attack at night

and destroy her fortresses!”

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.

1 “Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin!

Get out of Jerusalem!

Sound the alarm in Tekoa!

Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem!

A powerful army is coming from the north,

coming with disaster and destruction.

2 O Jerusalem, 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!’ ”

1 “O you children of Benjamin,

Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem!

Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,

And set up a signal-fire in Beth Haccerem;

For disaster appears out of the north,

And great destruction.

2 I have likened the daughter of Zion

To a lovely and delicate woman.

3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her.

They shall pitch their tents against her all around.

Each one shall pasture in his own place.”

4 “Prepare war against her;

Arise, and let us go up at noon.

Woe to us, for the day goes away,

For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.

5 Arise, and let us go by night,

And let us destroy her palaces.”

1 “Run for your lives, people of Benjamin!

Run away from Jerusalem!

Blow the war trumpet in the town of Tekoa!

Raise the warning flag over the town of Beth Hakkerem!

Disaster is coming from the north;

terrible destruction is coming to you.

2 Jerusalem, I will destroy you,

you who are fragile and gentle.

3 Shepherds with their flocks will come against Jerusalem.

They will set up their tents all around her,

each shepherd taking care of his own section.”

4 They say, “Get ready to fight against Jerusalem!

Get up! We will attack at noon!

But it is already getting late;

the evening shadows are growing long.

5 So get up! We will attack at night.

We will destroy the strong towers of Jerusalem!”

1 Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction. 2 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off. 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. 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

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. 2 The comely and delicate one do I cut off, the daughter of Zion. 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. 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. 5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

1 “Take cover, people of Benjamin! 

Run away from Jerusalem! 

Blow the ram’s horn in Tekoa. 

Raise the flag over Beth Hakkerem, 

because disaster and widespread destruction 

are coming from the north. 

2 “My people Zion are like lovely pastures. 

3 With their flocks, shepherds will come to them, 

pitch their tents all around them, 

and each of them will tend his own flock. 

4 ⸤The shepherds say,⸥ ‘Prepare yourselves for war against Zion. 

Let’s attack at noon! 

How horrible it will be for us. The day is passing, 

and the shadows of evening are growing longer. 

5 Let’s attack at night and destroy its palaces.’ ” 

1 “Run for cover, Benjaminites,

out of Jerusalem!

Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa;

raise a smoke signal over Beth-haccherem,

for disaster threatens from the north,

even great destruction.

2 Though she is beautiful and delicate,

I will destroy Daughter Zion.

3 Shepherds and their flocks will come against her;

they will pitch their tents all around her.

Each will pasture his own portion.

4 Set them apart for war against her;

rise up, let’s attack at noon.

Woe to us, for the day is passing;

the evening shadows grow long.

5 Rise up, let’s attack by night.

Let us destroy her fortresses.”

1 Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin,

from the midst of Jerusalem!

Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,

and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem;

for evil looms out of the north,

and great destruction.

2 I have likened daughter Zion

to the loveliest pasture.

3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her.

They shall pitch their tents around her;

they shall pasture, all in their places.

4 “Prepare war against her;

up, and let us attack at noon!”

“Woe to us, for the day declines,

the shadows of evening lengthen!”

5 “Up, and let us attack by night,

and destroy her palaces!”

1 Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin,

from the midst of Jerusalem.

And in Tekoa blow a horn,

and on Beth-haccherem lift up a signal,

for evil looks down from the north,

and a great destruction.

2 The lovely and the delicate,

the daughter of Jerusalem, I will destroy.

3 Shepherds and their flocks will come against her,

they will pitch their tents against her all around,

they will pasture, each his portion.

4 Sanctify war against her.

Arise, and let us attack at noon.

Woe to us, for the day turns,

for the shadows of evening are lengthened.

5 Arise, and let us attack by night,

and let us destroy her citadel fortresses.”

1 The Lord says, “People of Benjamin, run for safety!

Run away from Jerusalem!

Blow trumpets in Tekoa!

Warn everyone in Beth Hakkerem!

Horrible trouble is coming from the north.

The Babylonians will destroy everything with awful power.

2 I will destroy the city of Zion,

even though it is very beautiful.

3 Shepherds will come against it with their flocks.

They will set up their tents around it.

All of them will take care of their own sheep.”

4 The Babylonians say, “Prepare for battle against Judah!

Get up! Let’s attack them at noon!

But the daylight is fading.

The shadows of evening are getting longer.

5 So get up! Let’s attack them at night!

Let’s destroy their strongest forts!”

1 “Flee for safety, O sons of Benjamin,

From the midst of Jerusalem!

Now blow a trumpet in Tekoa

And raise a signal over Beth-haccerem;

For evil looks down from the north,

And a great destruction.

2 “The comely and dainty one, the daughter of Zion, I will cut off.

3 “Shepherds and their flocks will come to her,

They will pitch their tents around her,

They will pasture each in his place.

4 “Prepare war against her;

Arise, and let us attack at noon.

Woe to us, for the day declines,

For the shadows of the evening lengthen!

5 “Arise, and let us attack by night

And destroy her palaces!”