7. A lion has come out of its lair.A destroyer of nations has set out.He has left his place to destroy your land.Your cities will be ruined, and no one will live in them.
8. So put on sackcloth, mourn, and crybecause the Lord’s burning anger hasn’t turned away from us.
9. “When that day comes,” declares the Lord,“the king and the leaders will lose their courage.The priests will be stunned.The prophets will be amazed and astonished.”
10. I said, “Almighty Lord,you certainly have deceived these people and Jerusalem.You said that everything would go well for them,but a sword is held at their throats.”
11. At that time it will be said to these people and to Jerusalem:“A hot wind from the heights will blow in the deserton the tracks of my people.It will not be a wind that winnows or cleanses.
12. It will be a stronger wind than that.It will come from me.Now, I will pass sentence on them.”
13. The enemy comes up like clouds.His chariots are like a raging wind.His horses are faster than eagles.How horrible it will be for us! We will be destroyed!
14. Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heartso that you may be rescued.Don’t continue making evil plans.
15. A message is heard from Dan,and a report of disaster comes from the mountains of Ephraim.
16. Warn the nations about these things.Bring them to the attention of Jerusalem.“Hostile troops are coming from a distant country.They are shouting battle cries against the cities of Judah.
17. They surround them like men guarding a field,because Judah has rebelled against me,”declares the Lord.
18. “You brought this on yourself.This is your punishment.It is bitter.It breaks your heart.”
19. My anguish, my anguish!I writhe in pain.My heart is beating wildly!My heart is pounding!I can’t keep quietbecause I hear a ram’s horn sounding the alarm for war.
20. One disaster follows another.The whole land is ruined.My tents are suddenly destroyed.Their curtains are torn in an instant.
21. How long must I see the battle flag and hear the sound of rams’ horns?
22. “My people are fools. They don’t know me.They are stupid people. They don’t understand.They are experts in doing wrong,and they don’t know how to do good.”
23. I see the earth. It’s formless and empty.I see the sky. Its lights are gone.