3. This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:“Plow your unplowed fields.Don’t plant seeds among the thorns.
4. Give yourselves to the service of the Lord.Decide to obey him.Do this, men of Judah and people of Jerusalem.If you don’t, my anger will spread among you like a fire.No one will be able to put it outbecause of the evil you have done.
5. “Announce this message to Judah and say it in Jerusalem:‘Blow the trumpet throughout the country!’Shout out loud and say,‘Come together!Let’s all escape to the strong, walled cities!’
6. Raise the signal flag toward Jerusalem!Run for your lives! And don’t wait!Do this because I am bringing disaster from the north.It will be terrible destruction.”
7. A lion has come out of his den.A destroyer of nations has begun to march.He has left his hometo destroy your land.Your towns will be destroyed.There will be no people left to live in them.
8. So put on rough cloth,show how sad you are and cry loudly.The terrible anger of the Lordhas not turned away from us.
9. “When this happens,” says the Lord,“the king and officers will lose their courage.The priests will be terribly afraid.And the prophets will be shocked!”
10. Then I, Jeremiah, said, “Lord God, you have tricked the people of Judah and Jerusalem. You said, ‘You will have peace.’ But now the sword is pointing at our throats!”
11. At that time this message will be given to Judah and Jerusalem: “A hot wind blows from the bare hilltops. It comes out of the desert toward the Lord’s people. It is not like the gentle wind farmers use to separate grain from chaff.
12. It’s a stronger wind than that. And it comes from the Lord. Now he will announce his judgment against the people of Judah.”
13. Look! The enemy rises up like a cloud.His chariots come like a windstorm.His horses are faster than eagles.How terrible it will be for us! We are ruined!
14. People of Jerusalem, clean the evil from your hearts and be saved.Don’t continue making evil plans.
15. A voice from Dan makes an announcement.From the mountains of Ephraim someone brings bad news.
16. “Report this to the nations.Spread this news in Jerusalem:‘Enemies are coming from a faraway country.They are shouting words of war against the cities of Judah.
17. The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem as men guard a field.This is because Judah turned against me,’” says the Lord.