1. The Lord said:Israel, if you really wantto come back to me, get ridof those disgusting idols.
2. Make promises only in my name,and do what you promise!Then all nations will praise me,and I will bless them.
3. People of Jerusalem and Judah,don't be so stubborn!Your hearts have become hard,like unploughed groundwhere thorn bushes grow.
4. With all your hearts,keep the agreementI made with you.But if you are stubbornand keep on sinning,my anger will burn like a firethat cannot be put out.
5-6. “Sound the trumpets, my people.Warn the people of Judah,‘Run for your lives!Head for Jerusalemor another walled town!’“Jeremiah, tell them I'm sendingdisaster from the north.
7. An army will come out,like a lion from its den.It will destroy nationsand leave your towns emptyand in ruins.”
8. Then I saidto the people of Israel,“Put on sackcloth!Mourn and cry out,‘The Lord is still angrywith us.’ ”
9. The Lord said,“When all this happens,the king and his officials,the prophets and the priestswill be shocked and terrified.”
10. I said, “You are the Lord God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?”
11-12. When disaster comes, the Lord will tell you people of Jerusalem,“I am sending a stormfrom the desert—not a welcome breeze.And it will sweep you awayas punishment for your sins.
13. Look! The enemy armyswoops down like an eagle;their cavalry and chariotsrace faster than storm cloudsblown by the wind.”Then you will answer,“We are doomed!”
14. But Jerusalem, there is still timefor you to be saved.Wash the evil from your heartsand stop making sinful plans,
15. before a message of disasterarrives from the hills of Ephraimand the town of Dan.
16-17. The Lord said,“Tell the nations that my peoplehave rebelled against me.And so an army will comefrom far awayto surround Jerusalemand the towns of Judah.I, the Lord, have spoken.
18. “People of Judah,your hearts will be in pain,but it's your own faultthat you will be punished.”
19. I can't stand the pain!My heart pounds,as I twist and turn in agony.I hear the signal trumpetand the battle cry of the enemy,and I cannot be silent.
20. I see the enemy defeating ustime after time,leaving everything in ruins.Even my own homeis destroyed in a moment.
21. How long will I see enemy flagsand hear their trumpets?
22. I heard the Lord say,“My people ignore me.They are foolish childrenwho do not understandthat they will be punished.All they know is how to sin.”
23. After this, I looked around.The earth was barren,with no form of life.The sun, moon, and starshad disappeared.
24. The mountains were shaking;
25. no people could be seen,and all the birdshad flown away.
26. Farmland had become a desert,and towns were in ruins.The Lord's fierce angerhad done all of this.
27-28. The Lord said:I have made my decision,and I won't change my mind.This land will be destroyed,although not completely.The sky will turn dark,and the earth will mourn.
29. Enemy cavalry and archersshout their battle cry.People run for their livesand try to find safetyamong trees and rocks.Every town is empty.
30. Jerusalem, your landhas been wiped out.But you act like a prostituteand try to win back your lovers,who now hate you.You can put on a red dress,gold jewellery, and eye shadow,but it's no use—your lovers are out to kill you!
31. I heard groaning and crying.Was it a woman giving birthto her first child?No, it was Jerusalem.She was gasping for breathand begging for help.“I'm dying!” she said.“They have murdered me.”