11 These words are not in the text but are implicit in the connection. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.
12 Heb “Sanctify war.” This is probably an idiom from early Israel’s holy wars in which religious rites were to precede the battle.
13 These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation for clarity. Some commentaries and English versions see these not as the words of the enemy but as those of the Israelites expressing their fear that the enemy will launch a night attack against them and further destroy them. The connection with the next verse, however, fits better with them if they are the words of the enemy.
14 Heb “Woe to us!” For the usage of this phrase see the translator’s note on . The usage of this particle here is a little exaggerated. They have lost the most advantageous time for attack but they are scarcely in a hopeless or doomed situation. The equivalent in English slang is “Bad news!”
15 Heb “For.” The translation attempts to make the connection clearer.
16 Heb “Yahweh of armies.” For an explanation of the significance of this title see the study note on .
17 Heb “Cut down its trees and build up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.” The referent has been moved forward from the second line for clarity.
18 Or “must be punished.” The meaning of this line is uncertain. The reads, “Woe, city of falsehood!” The presents two anomalies: a masculine singular verb with a feminine singular subject in a verbal stem (Hophal) that elsewhere does not have the meaning “is to be punished.” Hence many follow the Greek which presupposes הוֹי עִיר הַשֶּׁקֶר (hoy ’ir hasheqer) instead of הִיא הָעִיר הָפְקַד (hi’ ha’ir hofqad). The Greek is the easier reading in light of the parallelism, and it would be hard to explain how the arose from it. suggests reading a noun meaning “licentiousness” which occurs elsewhere only in Mishnaic Hebrew, hence “this is the city, the licentious one” (attributive apposition; cf. 775 פֶּקֶר). Perhaps the Hophal perfect (הָפְקַד, hoféqad) should be revocalized as a Niphal infinitive absolute (הִפָּקֹד, hippaqod); this would solve both anomalies in the since the Niphal is used in this nuance and the infinitive absolute can function in place of a finite verb (cf. §113.ee and ff). This, however, is mere speculation and is supported by no Hebrew .
19 Heb “All of it oppression in its midst.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Prepare war against her;

arise, and let us attack at noon!

Woe to us, for the day declines,

for the shadows of evening lengthen!

Arise, and let us attack by night

and destroy her palaces!”

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Prepare for battle against her!

Arise, let us attack at noon!

But, alas, the daylight is fading,

and the shadows of evening grow long.

So arise, let us attack at night

and destroy her fortresses!”

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

Rise up, let’s attack by night.

Let’s destroy her fortresses.”

For this is what the Lord of Armies says:

Cut down the trees;

raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.

This city must be punished.

There is nothing but oppression within her.

NLTNew Living Translation

They shout, ‘Prepare for battle!

Attack at noon!’

‘No, it’s too late; the day is fading,

and the evening shadows are falling.’

‘Well then, let’s attack at night

and destroy her palaces!’ ”

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

Arise, and let us attack by night,

and let us destroy her citadel fortresses.”

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.

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. Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. 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.

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Jeremiah 6:4–6

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