1 H UID, hijos de Benjamín, de en medio de Jerusalem, y tocad bocina en Tecoa, y alzad por señal humo sobre Beth-hacchêrem: porque del aquilón se ha visto mal, y quebrantamiento grande.

“Run away to be safe, O sons of Benjamin! Run from Jerusalem! Blow the horn in Tekoa, and light a fire in Beth-haccerem. For a sinful power is coming down from the north, that will destroy much.

2 A mujer hermosa y delicada comparé á la hija de Sión.

I will cut off the beautiful and fine ones, the people of Zion.

3 A ella vendrán pastores y sus rebaños; junto á ella en derredor pondrán sus tiendas; cada uno apacentará á su parte.

Shepherds and their flocks will come to her. They will set up their tents around her and feed their flocks there, each in his place.

4 D enunciad guerra contra ella: levantaos y subamos hacia el mediodía. ­Ay de nosotros! que va cayendo ya el día, que las sombras de la tarde se han extendido.

Make war against her. Rise up, let us go and fight her at noon. It is bad for us, for the day is passing! The shadows of the evening are longer!

5 L evantaos, y subamos de noche, y destruyamos sus palacios.

Rise up, let us go and fight in the night and destroy her strong houses!”

6 P orque así dijo Jehová de los ejércitos: Cortad árboles, y extended baluarte junto á Jerusalem: esta es la ciudad que toda ella ha de ser visitada; violencia hay en medio de ella.

For the Lord of All says, “Cut down her trees, and build a battle-wall against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. There is nothing but a sinful power that makes hard times for others within her.

7 C omo la fuente nunca cesa de manar sus aguas, así nunca cesa de manar su malicia; injusticia y robo se oye en ella; continuamente en mi presencia, enfermedad y herida.

As a well keeps its water good for drinking, so Jerusalem keeps going on in her sin. The sounds of those who fight and those who destroy are heard in her. Sickness and sorrow are always before Me.

8 C orrígete, Jerusalem, porque no se aparte mi alma de ti, porque no te torne desierta, tierra no habitada.

Listen about the danger, O Jerusalem, or I will become a stranger to you. I will make you a waste, a land with no people.” Israel Will Not Listen

9 A sí dijo Jehová de los ejércitos: Del todo rebuscarán como á vid el resto de Israel: torna tu mano como vendimiador á los cestos.

The Lord of All says, “They will gather all the people of Israel who are left like gathering from the vine. Pass your hand over the branches again like one who gathers grapes.”

10 ¿ A quién tengo de hablar y amonestar, para que oigan? He aquí que sus orejas son incircuncisas, y no pueden escuchar; he aquí que la palabra de Jehová les es cosa vergonzosa, no la aman.

Whom should I tell of the danger, that they may hear? See, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. They have become ashamed of the Word of the Lord. They have no joy in it.

11 P or tanto estoy lleno de saña de Jehová, trabajado he por contenerme; derramaréla sobre los niños en la calle, y sobre la reunión de los jóvenes juntamente; porque el marido también será preso con la mujer, el viejo con el lleno de días.

But I am full of the anger of the Lord. I am tired of holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be taken, the old and those who have lived a very long time.

12 Y sus casas serán traspasadas á otros, sus heredades y también sus mujeres; porque extenderé mi mano sobre los moradores de la tierra, dice Jehová.

Their houses, their fields and their wives will be given to others. I will put out My hand against the people of the land,” says the Lord.

13 P orque desde el más chico de ellos hasta el más grande de ellos, cada uno sigue la avaricia; y desde el profeta hasta el sacerdote, todos son engañadores.

“For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is always wanting something. And from the man of God to the religious leader, every one lies to get what he wants.

14 Y curan el quebrantamiento de la hija de mi pueblo con liviandad, diciendo, Paz, paz; y no hay paz.

They have healed the hurt of My people only a little, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

15 ¿ Hanse avergonzado de haber hecho abominación? No por cierto, no se han avergonzado, ni aun saben tener vergüenza: por tanto caerán entre los que caerán; caerán cuando los visitaré, dice Jehová.

Were they ashamed because of the sinful things they had done? No, they were not ashamed at all. They did not even know how to turn red. So they will fall among those who fall. When I punish them, they will be brought down,” says the Lord. Israel Will Not Go God’s Way

16 A sí dijo Jehová: Paraos en los caminos, y mirad, y preguntad por las sendas antiguas, cuál sea el buen camino, y andad por él, y hallaréis descanso para vuestra alma. Mas dijeron: No andaremos.

The Lord says, “Stand by where the roads cross, and look. Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

17 D esperté también sobre vosotros atalayas, que dijesen: Escuchad á la voz de la trompeta. Y dijeron ellos: No escucharemos.

I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the horn!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’

18 P or tanto oid, gentes, y conoce, oh conjunto de ellas.

So hear, O nations, and know, O people, what will happen to them.

19 O ye, tierra. He aquí yo traigo mal sobre este pueblo, el fruto de sus pensamientos; porque no escucharon á mis palabras, y aborrecieron mi ley.

Hear, O earth. See, I am bringing much trouble upon these people. It is the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words. And they have turned away from My law.

20 ¿ A qué viene para mí este incienso de Seba, y la buena caña olorosa de tierra lejana? Vuestros holocaustos no son á mi voluntad, ni vuestros sacrificios me dan gusto.

Why does special perfume come to Me from Sheba, or sweet spices from a far away land? I will not receive your burnt gifts on the altar in worship. The gifts you give on the altar are not pleasing to Me.”

21 P or tanto Jehová dice esto: He aquí yo pongo á este pueblo tropiezos, y caerán en ellos los padres y los hijos juntamente, el vecino y su cercano perecerán.

So the Lord says, “See, I am laying things in front of these people, and they will fall over them. Fathers and sons will fall together, and neighbor and friend will die.” Armies from the North

22 A sí ha dicho Jehová: He aquí que viene pueblo de tierra del aquilón, y gente grande se levantará de los cantones de la tierra.

The Lord says, “See, a people is coming from the north country. A great nation is being raised up from the farthest parts of the earth.

23 A rco y escudo arrebatarán; crueles son, que no tendrán misericordia; sonará la voz de ellos como la mar, y montarán á caballo como hombres dispuestos para la guerra, contra ti, oh hija de Sión.

They take hold of bow and spear. They are hard on people and have no pity. Their voice sounds like the sea. They ride on horses, dressed as a man for battle against you, O people of Zion!”

24 S u fama oimos, y nuestras manos se descoyuntaron; apoderóse de nosotros angustia, dolor como de mujer que pare.

We have heard about it. Our hands fall weak. Suffering has taken hold of us, like the pain of a woman giving birth.

25 N o salgas al campo, ni andes por camino; porque espada de enemigo y temor hay por todas partes.

Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road. For the one who hates us has a sword. Fear is all around us.

26 H ija de mi pueblo, cíñete de saco, y revuélcate en ceniza; hazte luto como por hijo único, llanto de amarguras: porque presto vendrá sobre nosotros el destruidor.

O daughter of my people, dress in cloth made from hair and roll in ashes. Have sorrow as if you lost your only son. Cry with a bitter cry. For all at once the destroyer will come upon us.

27 P or fortaleza te he puesto en mi pueblo, por torre: conocerás pues, y examinarás el camino de ellos.

“I have asked you to test My people, that you may know and test their ways.”

28 T odos ellos príncipes rebeldes, andan con engaño; son cobre y hierro: todos ellos son corruptores.

All of them are strongwilled in turning to their own way, going about telling stories to hurt people. They are brass and iron. All of them are sinful.

29 Q uemóse el fuelle, del fuego se ha consumido el plomo: por demás fundió el fundidor, pues los malos no son arrancados.

Air is blown hard on the fire to burn up the lead. It is of no use because the sinful ones are not taken away.

30 P lata desechada los llamarán, porque Jehová los desechó.

They are called waste silver, because the Lord has turned away from them.