17 Also, I set uwatchmen over you, saying,

v‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

18 Therefore hear, you nations,

And know, O congregation, what is among them.

19 wHear, O earth!

Behold, I will certainly bring xcalamity on this people—

yThe fruit of their thoughts,

Because they have not heeded My words

Nor My law, but rejected it.

20 zFor what purpose to Me

Comes frankincense afrom Sheba,

And bsweet cane from a far country?

cYour burnt offerings are not acceptable,

Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”

21 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,

And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.

The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”

22 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, a people comes from the dnorth 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 eroars 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.

fAnguish has taken hold of us,

Pain as of a woman in 5labor.

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.

26 O daughter of my people,

gDress in sackcloth

hAnd roll about in ashes!

iMake mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;

For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.

27 “I have set you as an assayer and ja fortress among My people,

That you may know and test their way.

28 kThey are all stubborn rebels, lwalking as slanderers.

They are mbronze and iron,

They are all corrupters;

29 The bellows blow fiercely,

The lead is consumed by the fire;

The smelter refines in vain,

For the wicked are not drawn off.

30 People will call them nrejected silver,

Because the Lord has rejected them.”