4. Keep your covenant with me, your Lord, and dedicate yourselves to me, you people of Judah and Jerusalem. If you don't, my anger will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. It will burn, and there will be no one to put it out.”
5. Blow the trumpet throughout the land!Shout loud and clear!Tell the people of Judah and Jerusalemto run to the fortified cities.
6. Point the way to Zion!Run for safety! Don't delay!The Lord is bringing disasterand great destruction from the north.
7. Like a lion coming from its hiding place,a destroyer of nations has set out.He is coming to destroy Judah.The cities of Judah will be left in ruins,and no one will live in them.
8. So put on sackcloth, and weep and wailbecause the fierce anger of the Lordhas not turned away from Judah.
9. The Lord said, “On that day kings and officials will lose their courage; priests will be shocked and prophets will be astonished.”
10. Then I said, “Sovereign Lord, you have completely deceived the people of Jerusalem! You have said there would be peace, but a sword is at their throats.”
11. The time is coming when the people of Jerusalem will be told that a scorching wind is blowing in from the desert towards them. It will not be a gentle wind that only blows away the chaff —
12. the wind that comes at the Lord's command will be much stronger than that! It is the Lord himself who is pronouncing judgement on his people.
13. Look, the enemy is coming like clouds. Their war chariots are like a whirlwind, and their horses are faster than eagles. We are lost! We are doomed!