Jeremiah 6:20–23

20 What do I care about incense from Sheba

or sweet calamus from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;

your sacrifices do not please me.”

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“I will put obstacles before this people.

Parents and children alike will stumble over them;

neighbors and friends will perish.”

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.”

20 What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba,

or sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.

21 Therefore thus says the Lord:

‘Behold, I will lay before this people

stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;

fathers and sons together,

neighbor and friend shall perish.’ ”

22 Thus says the Lord:

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

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

23 They lay hold on bow and javelin;

they are cruel and have no mercy;

the sound of them is like the roaring sea;

they ride on horses,

set in array as a man for battle,

against you, O daughter of Zion!”

20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. 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.

20 There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba.

Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands!

I will not accept your burnt offerings.

Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”

21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

“I will put obstacles in my people’s path.

Fathers and sons will both fall over them.

Neighbors and friends will die together.”

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.”

20 Why do you bring me offerings of incense from the land of Sheba?

Why do you bring me sweet-smelling cane from a faraway land?

Your burnt offerings will not be accepted;

your sacrifices do not please me.”

21 So this is what the Lord says:

“I will put problems in front of Judah.

Fathers and sons will stumble over them together.

Neighbors and friends will die.”

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.”

20 To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.

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.

20 To what purpose should there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing unto me. 21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall over them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. 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.

20 Incense that comes from Sheba is no good to me. 

Sugar cane that comes from a distant land is no good to me. 

I won’t accept your burnt offerings. 

I’m not pleased with your sacrifices. 

21 This is what the Lord says: 

I’m going to lay stumbling blocks in front of these people. 

Parents and children will stumble over them. 

Neighbors and their friends will die. 

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. 

20 What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba

or sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;

your sacrifices do not please Me.

21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people;

fathers and sons together will stumble over them;

friends and neighbors will also perish.

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.

20 Of what use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba

or sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.

21 Therefore thus says the Lord:

See, I am laying before this people

stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;

parents and children together,

neighbor and friend shall perish.

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!

20 What is this to me?

Frankincense comes from Sheba,

and the precious spice reed from a distant land.

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.”

21 Therefore thus says Yahweh:

“Look, I am about to put before this people stumbling blocks,

and they will stumble against them,

fathers and children together,

neighbor and his friend will perish.”

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.”

20 What do I care about incense from the land of Sheba?

Why should I bother with sweet-smelling cane from a land far away?

I do not accept your burnt offerings.

Your sacrifices do not please me.”

21 So the Lord says,

“I will bring an army against the people of Judah.

Parents and children alike will trip and fall.

Neighbors and friends will die.”

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.”

20 “For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba

And the sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable

And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”

21 Therefore, thus says the Lord,

“Behold, I am laying stumbling blocks before this people.

And they will stumble against them,

Fathers and sons together;

Neighbor and friend will perish.”

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!”