For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Cutdownher treesAnd castup a siegeagainstJerusalem.Thisis the cityto be punished,In whose midstthere is onlyoppression.
"Therefore,thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe kingof Assyria,'He will not cometo thiscityor shootan arrowthere;and he will not comebeforeit with a shield,orthrowup a siegerampagainstit.
For eachtimeI speak,I cryaloud;I proclaimviolenceand destruction,Becausefor me the wordof the LORDhas resultedIn reproachand derisionalldaylong.
"But your eyesand your heartAre [intent] onlyupon your own dishonestgain,And on sheddinginnocentbloodAnd on practicingoppressionand extortion."
Behold,the siegerampshave reachedthe cityto takeit; and the cityis giveninto the handof the Chaldeanswho fightagainstit, becauseof the sword,the famineand the pestilence;and whatYou have spokenhas cometo pass;and behold,You see[it].
"Indeedthiscityhas beento Me [a] [provocation of] My angerand My wrathfrom the daythat they builtit, even to thisday,so that it should be removedfrom beforeMy face,
"For thussaysthe LORDGodof Israelconcerningthe housesof thiscity,and concerningthe housesof the kingsof Judahwhich are brokendown[to make a defense] againstthe siegerampsand againstthe sword,
Now whenJerusalemwas capturedin the ninthyearof Zedekiahkingof Judah,in the tenthmonth,Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylonand allhis armycameto Jerusalemand laidsiegeto it;
Shall I not punishthese[people]?' declaresthe LORD,'On a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?'
"Shall I not punishthese[people]," declaresthe LORD,"And on a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
"Then laysiegeagainstit, builda siegewall,raiseup a ramp,pitchcampsand placebatteringramsagainstit allaround.
"Thussaysthe LordGOD,'Thisis Jerusalem;I have sether at the centerof the nations,with landsaroundher.
"Then the kingof the Northwill come,castup a siegerampand capturea well-fortifiedcity;and the forcesof the Southwill not stand[their ground], not even their choicesttroops,for therewill be nostrengthto makea stand.
Woeto her who is rebelliousand defiled,The tyrannicalcity!
"For the dayswill comeupon you whenyour enemieswill throwup a barricadeagainst you, and surroundyou and hemyou in on every side,
