Break up your fallow ground
“If you will return, Israel,” says the LORD, “return to me. If you put away your disgusting things out of my sight, you will not be moved. And you'll swear, As surely as the LORD lives, in truth and justice and righteousness. And the nations will bless themselves in him, and they'll boast in him. This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; take away the foreskins of your hearts, people of Judah and Jerusalem, or my fury will come out like fire and burn with no one able to put it out, because of the evil you have done.” Tell it in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem. Say: Blow the trumpet in the land. Cry out loud and say: Gather together, and let's get into the fortified cities. Raise the signal towards Zion. Run for it, don't stand about. Because I'm bringing trouble from the north, and a great destruction. The lion has come up out of his thicket, and the destroyer of Gentiles is on his way. He's come out of his place to make your land desolate. Your cities will be pulled down with nobody living in them. So put on coarse mourning cloth, mourn and howl. Because the fierce anger of the LORD hasn't turned back off us. And on that day, declares the LORD, the heart of the king will go and the heart of the officials, and the priests will be appalled and the prophets stunned. Then I said: Ah, Lord GOD — you've really let this people and Jerusalem be taken in, saying, You'll have peace — and the sword is at the throat. At that time it'll be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A scorching wind off the bare heights in the wilderness comes at the daughter of my people — not to winnow and not to clean. A wind too strong for that comes at my order. Now I'll speak my judgments against them. Look: he comes up like clouds, and his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are faster than eagles. We're finished, we're done for. Wash the wickedness out of your heart, Jerusalem, so you can be saved. How long will your rotten thoughts stay lodged inside you? Because a voice is telling it from Dan, calling out the trouble from Mount Ephraim. Tell the nations. Look: make it heard against Jerusalem: Watchmen are coming from a far country and letting their voices go against the cities of Judah. They're on her like men guarding a field, because she's rebelled against me, declares the LORD. Your own way and what you've done have brought this on you. This is your wickedness — and it's bitter, and it goes right to the heart.
If you'll come back, Israel, declares the Lord, come back to me. And if you'll take your disgusting things out of my sight, then you won't have to shift. And you'll swear, As surely as the Lord lives, in truth and justice and righteousness. And the nations will bless themselves in him, and they'll boast in him. Because this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground and don't sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord. Take away the foreskin of your heart, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem — or my fury will come out like fire and burn with nobody to put it out, because of the wickedness of what you've done. Tell it in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem. Say: Blow the trumpet in the land. Call out loud and say: Gather together, and let's get into the fortified towns. Raise the signal towards Zion. Run for it, don't stand about. Because I'm bringing trouble from the north, and a great smash. The lion has come up out of his thicket, and the wrecker of nations is on his way. He's come out of his place to make your land a wreck. Your towns will be pulled down with nobody living in them. So put on sackcloth, mourn and howl. Because the heat of the Lord's anger hasn't turned back off us. And on that day, declares the Lord, the heart of the king will go and the heart of the officials, and the priests will be appalled and the prophets stunned. Then I said: Hang on, Lord God — you've really let this people and Jerusalem be taken in, saying, You'll have peace — and the sword is at the throat. At that time it'll be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A scorching wind off the bare heights in the wilderness comes at the daughter of my people — not to winnow and not to clean. A wind too strong for that comes at my order. Now I'll speak my judgments against them. Look — he comes up like clouds, and his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are faster than eagles. We're finished, we're done for. Wash the wickedness out of your heart, Jerusalem, so you can be saved. How long will your rotten thoughts stay lodged inside you? Because a voice is telling it from Dan, calling out the trouble from Mount Ephraim. Tell the nations. Look — make it heard against Jerusalem: Watchmen are coming from a far country and letting their voices go against the towns of Judah. They're on her like men guarding a field, because she's rebelled against me, declares the Lord. Your own way and what you've done have brought this on you. This is your wickedness — and it's bitter, and it goes right to the heart.
If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us. And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul. At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them. Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim. Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
“If you will return, Israel,” says the LORD, “return to me. If you put away your disgusting things out of my sight, you will not be moved.
If you'll come back, Israel, declares the Lord, come back to me. And if you'll take your disgusting things out of my sight, then you won't have to shift.
If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
And you'll swear, As surely as the LORD lives, in truth and justice and righteousness. And the nations will bless themselves in him, and they'll boast in him.
And you'll swear, As surely as the Lord lives, in truth and justice and righteousness. And the nations will bless themselves in him, and they'll boast in him.
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
This is what the LORD says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns.
Because this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground and don't sow among thorns.
For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; take away the foreskins of your hearts, people of Judah and Jerusalem, or my fury will come out like fire and burn with no one able to put it out, because of the evil you have done.”
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord. Take away the foreskin of your heart, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem — or my fury will come out like fire and burn with nobody to put it out, because of the wickedness of what you've done.
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
Tell it in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem. Say: Blow the trumpet in the land. Cry out loud and say: Gather together, and let's get into the fortified cities.
Tell it in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem. Say: Blow the trumpet in the land. Call out loud and say: Gather together, and let's get into the fortified towns.
Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
Raise the signal towards Zion. Run for it, don't stand about. Because I'm bringing trouble from the north, and a great destruction.
Raise the signal towards Zion. Run for it, don't stand about. Because I'm bringing trouble from the north, and a great smash.
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
The lion has come up out of his thicket, and the destroyer of Gentiles is on his way. He's come out of his place to make your land desolate. Your cities will be pulled down with nobody living in them.
The lion has come up out of his thicket, and the wrecker of nations is on his way. He's come out of his place to make your land a wreck. Your towns will be pulled down with nobody living in them.
The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
So put on coarse mourning cloth, mourn and howl. Because the fierce anger of the LORD hasn't turned back off us.
So put on sackcloth, mourn and howl. Because the heat of the Lord's anger hasn't turned back off us.
For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
And on that day, declares the LORD, the heart of the king will go and the heart of the officials, and the priests will be appalled and the prophets stunned.
And on that day, declares the Lord, the heart of the king will go and the heart of the officials, and the priests will be appalled and the prophets stunned.
And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
Then I said: Ah, Lord GOD — you've really let this people and Jerusalem be taken in, saying, You'll have peace — and the sword is at the throat.
Then I said: Hang on, Lord God — you've really let this people and Jerusalem be taken in, saying, You'll have peace — and the sword is at the throat.
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
At that time it'll be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A scorching wind off the bare heights in the wilderness comes at the daughter of my people — not to winnow and not to clean.
At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
A wind too strong for that comes at my order. Now I'll speak my judgments against them.
Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
Look: he comes up like clouds, and his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are faster than eagles. We're finished, we're done for.
Look — he comes up like clouds, and his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are faster than eagles. We're finished, we're done for.
Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
Wash the wickedness out of your heart, Jerusalem, so you can be saved. How long will your rotten thoughts stay lodged inside you?
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
Because a voice is telling it from Dan, calling out the trouble from Mount Ephraim.
For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
Tell the nations. Look: make it heard against Jerusalem: Watchmen are coming from a far country and letting their voices go against the cities of Judah.
Tell the nations. Look — make it heard against Jerusalem: Watchmen are coming from a far country and letting their voices go against the towns of Judah.
Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
They're on her like men guarding a field, because she's rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
They're on her like men guarding a field, because she's rebelled against me, declares the Lord.
As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
Your own way and what you've done have brought this on you. This is your wickedness — and it's bitter, and it goes right to the heart.
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
My insides, my insides
My insides, my insides. I'm doubled over with the pain. My heart is thumping inside me. I can't keep quiet, because I've heard the trumpet, the war cry. Break on break is the news, because the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment. How long do I have to look at the signal and listen to the trumpet? My people are foolish. They do not know me. They are foolish children with no understanding. They are clever at doing evil, but they do not know how to do good. I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty, and at the heavens and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains and they were shaking, and all the hills were rocking about. I looked and there was no one, and every bird in heaven had gone. I looked and the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were pulled down before the LORD, before the heat of his anger. Because this is what the LORD says: The whole land will be a desolation — but I won't make a full end of it. The earth will mourn for this and the heavens above will go dark, because I've spoken it and shaped it and I won't be sorry for it and I won't turn back from it. The whole city runs at the noise of the horsemen and the archers. They get into the thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every city is left and nobody lives in them. And you, when you're stripped, what will you do? Even if you dress in scarlet and put on gold jewellery and paint your eyes out with kohl — you'll make yourself pretty for nothing. Those who wanted you despise you. They're after your life. Because I've heard a voice like a woman in labour, the pain of a woman having her first — the voice of the daughter of Zion gasping and spreading out her hands: I'm done for, my soul is worn out by the killers.
My insides, my insides. I'm doubled over with the pain. My heart is thumping inside me. I can't keep quiet, because I've heard the trumpet, the war cry. Smash on smash is the news, because the whole land is wrecked. Suddenly my tents are wrecked, my curtains in a moment. How long do I have to look at the signal and listen to the trumpet? Because my people are stupid. They don't know me. They're silly children with no understanding. They're clever at doing wrong and they've got no idea how to do good. I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty, and at the heavens and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains and they were shaking, and all the hills were rocking about. I looked and there was no one, and every bird in the sky had gone. I looked and the fruitful land was a desert, and all its towns were pulled down in front of the Lord, in front of the heat of his anger. Because this is what the Lord says: The whole land will be a wreck — but I won't finish it off completely. The earth will mourn for this and the heavens above will go dark, because I've spoken it and shaped it and I won't be sorry for it and I won't turn back from it. The whole town runs at the noise of the horsemen and the archers. They get into the thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every town is left and nobody lives in them. And you, when you're stripped, what will you do? Even if you dress in scarlet and put on gold jewellery and paint your eyes out with kohl — you'll make yourself pretty for nothing. The ones who wanted you despise you. They're after your life. Because I've heard a voice like a woman in labour, the pain of a woman having her first — the voice of the daughter of Zion gasping and spreading out her hands: I'm done for, my soul is worn out by the killers.
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it. The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein. And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
My insides, my insides. I'm doubled over with the pain. My heart is thumping inside me. I can't keep quiet, because I've heard the trumpet, the war cry.
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Break on break is the news, because the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.
Smash on smash is the news, because the whole land is wrecked. Suddenly my tents are wrecked, my curtains in a moment.
Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
How long do I have to look at the signal and listen to the trumpet?
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
My people are foolish. They do not know me. They are foolish children with no understanding. They are clever at doing evil, but they do not know how to do good.
Because my people are stupid. They don't know me. They're silly children with no understanding. They're clever at doing wrong and they've got no idea how to do good.
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
I looked at the earth and it was formless and empty, and at the heavens and their light was gone.
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked at the mountains and they were shaking, and all the hills were rocking about.
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
I looked and there was no one, and every bird in heaven had gone.
I looked and there was no one, and every bird in the sky had gone.
I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
I looked and the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were pulled down before the LORD, before the heat of his anger.
I looked and the fruitful land was a desert, and all its towns were pulled down in front of the Lord, in front of the heat of his anger.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
Because this is what the LORD says: The whole land will be a desolation — but I won't make a full end of it.
Because this is what the Lord says: The whole land will be a wreck — but I won't finish it off completely.
For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
The earth will mourn for this and the heavens above will go dark, because I've spoken it and shaped it and I won't be sorry for it and I won't turn back from it.
For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
The whole city runs at the noise of the horsemen and the archers. They get into the thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every city is left and nobody lives in them.
The whole town runs at the noise of the horsemen and the archers. They get into the thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every town is left and nobody lives in them.
The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
And you, when you're stripped, what will you do? Even if you dress in scarlet and put on gold jewellery and paint your eyes out with kohl — you'll make yourself pretty for nothing. Those who wanted you despise you. They're after your life.
And you, when you're stripped, what will you do? Even if you dress in scarlet and put on gold jewellery and paint your eyes out with kohl — you'll make yourself pretty for nothing. The ones who wanted you despise you. They're after your life.
And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
Because I've heard a voice like a woman in labour, the pain of a woman having her first — the voice of the daughter of Zion gasping and spreading out her hands: I'm done for, my soul is worn out by the killers.
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.