Jeremiah 6:1-8

1You descendants of Benjamin, you must run away to be safe! Escape from Jerusalem! Make a noise with a trumpet in Tekoa! Light a fire to warn people in Beth-Hakkerem! A great army is coming from the north. It will come to destroy everything!

2Jerusalem is a beautiful city, like a daughter that I love. She cannot protect herself, and I will destroy her.

3Kings will come to attack the city. They will bring their armies, like shepherds with their sheep. They will make their camps all around the city. Each of them will take their own piece of land.

4They will say to their soldiers, ‘Get ready to attack the city! We will attack at noon!’ But if the day is almost finished, they will say, ‘It is already evening and it will soon be dark.

5So we should attack them in the night. We will destroy all their strong buildings!’

6This will happen because Lord Almighty has said, ‘Cut down the trees around Jerusalem. Use them to build towers to the top of the city's walls. I must punish Jerusalem. It is full of cruel people.

7They never stop doing wicked things, like water that pours out from a spring. It is full of the noise of violence and fights. Everywhere I see people who have disease and wounds.

8Listen to me as I warn you, Jerusalem. If not, I will turn away from you. I will destroy you completely. Nobody will live on your land any more.’