7. A lion bursts out of the thicket;a destroyer of nations advances.He’s gone forth from his placeto ravage your land,to wipe out your towns,until no one is left.
8. So put on funeral clothing.Weep and wail,for the Lord’s fierce angerhasn’t turned away from us.
9. On that day, declares the Lord, the courage of the king and his princes will fail,the priests will be stunned,and the prophets will be shocked.
10. Then I said, "Lord God, no!You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalemby promising them peaceeven though the sword is at their throats."
11. At that time, this people and Jerusalem will be told:A blistering wind from the bare heights;it rages in the desert toward my people,not merely to winnow or cleanse.
12. This wind is too devastating for that.Now I, even I, will pronounce my sentence against them.
13. Look! He approaches like the clouds;his chariots advance like a tempest,his horses swifter than eagles.How horrible! We’re doomed!
14. Cleanse your heart of evil, Jerusalem,that you may be saved.How long will you entertain your destructive ideas?
15. A voice declares from Dan;someone proclaims disaster from the highlands of Ephraim.
16. Warn the nations,proclaim it to Jerusalem!Armies are approaching from a far-away country,raising their war cries against the towns of Judah.
17. They hem her in like those guarding a field,because she has rebelled against me,declares the Lord.
18. Your own conduct, your own deeds have done this to you.This is your payment and how bitter it is,piercing into the depths of your heart.
19. Oh, my suffering, my suffering!My pain is unbearable;my heart is in turmoil;it throbs nonstop.I can’t be silent, because I hear the blast of the trumpetand the roar of the battle cry!