Jeremiah 6:4–7

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!”

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees

and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.

This city must be punished;

it is filled with oppression.

7 As a well pours out its water,

so she pours out her wickedness.

Violence and destruction resound in her;

her sickness and wounds are ever before me.

4 “Prepare war against her;

arise, and let us attack at noon!

Woe to us, for the day declines,

for the shadows of evening lengthen!

5 Arise, and let us attack by night

and destroy her palaces!”

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Cut down her trees;

cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.

This is the city that must be punished;

there is nothing but oppression within her.

7 As a well keeps its water fresh,

so she keeps fresh her evil;

violence and destruction are heard within her;

sickness and wounds are ever before me.

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 the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

“Cut down the trees for battering rams.

Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem.

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.

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.”

6 For thus has the Lord of hosts said:

“Cut down trees,

And build a mound against Jerusalem.

This is the city to be punished.

She is full of oppression in her midst.

7 As a fountain wells up with water,

So she wells up with her wickedness.

Violence and plundering are heard in her.

Before Me continually are grief and wounds.

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!”

6 This is what the Lord All-Powerful says:

“Cut down the trees around Jerusalem,

and build an attack ramp to the top of its walls.

This city must be punished.

Inside it is nothing but slavery.

7 Jerusalem pours out her evil

as a well pours out its water.

The sounds of violence and destruction are heard within her.

I can see the sickness and hurts of Jerusalem.

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. 6 For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. 7 As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.

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. 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. 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.

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.’ ” 

6 This is what the Lord of Armies says: 

Cut down its trees. 

Build up dirt mounds to attack Jerusalem. 

This city must be punished. 

There is nothing but oppression in it. 

7 As a well keeps its water fresh, 

so Jerusalem keeps its evil fresh. 

Violence and destruction can be heard in it. 

I see that it is sick and wounded. 

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.”

6 For this is what the Lord of Hosts says:

Cut down the trees;

raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.

This city must be punished.

There is nothing but oppression within her.

7 As a well gushes out its water,

so she pours out her evil.

Violence and destruction resound in her.

Sickness and wounds keep coming to My attention.

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!”

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts:

Cut down her trees;

cast up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.

This is the city that must be punished;

there is nothing but oppression within her.

7 As a well keeps its water fresh,

so she keeps fresh her wickedness;

violence and destruction are heard within her;

sickness and wounds are ever before me.

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.”

6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts,

“Cut down trees and heap up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.

This is the city that must be punished,

its oppression is in its midst.

7 As a water well keeps its water cool,

so she keeps cool her wickedness.

Violence and destruction are heard within her,

sickness and wounds are continually before me.

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!”

6 The Lord who rules over all speaks to the Babylonians. He says,

“Cut some trees down.

Use the wood to build ramps against Jerusalem’s walls.

I must punish that city.

It is filled with people who treat others badly.

7 Wells keep giving fresh water.

And Jerusalem keeps on sinning.

Its people are always fighting and causing trouble.

When I look at them,

I see nothing but sickness and wounds.

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!”

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts,

“Cut down her trees

And cast up a siege against Jerusalem.

This is the city to be punished,

In whose midst there is only oppression.

7 “As a well keeps its waters fresh,

So she keeps fresh her wickedness.

Violence and destruction are heard in her;

Sickness and wounds are ever before Me.