6 Get out of Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and get yourselves to safety, you people of Benyamin,

and blow a trumpet in Tekoa.

≈ Send up a signal from Beyt-Hakkerem

because disaster and terrible destruction looms from the north.

2 Although it’s beautiful and delicate,

I will destroy Tsiyyon’s (Zion’s) daughter.

3 Shepherds and their flocks will go and pitch their tents all around it.[fn]

Each one will graze their own area.

4 Prepare for battle.

Take action and let’s attack at midday.

It won’t be good for us if the day is ending

because the evening shadows get longer.

5 Take action and attack at night

and destroy its palaces.

6 Commander-in-chief Yahweh says:

Cut down trees for timber

and mound up a ramp against Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

→ That city must be punished as it’s full of oppression.

7 Just as a well keeps its water fresh,

≈ so too she keeps her evil fresh.

Violence and oppression can be heard there.

≈ I always see sickness and plague.

8 Take note of my warning Yerushalem

in case I turn away from you—

in case I make you desolate—

a land that’s not inhabited.