3. This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:“Plow your unplowed fields,and don’t plant seeds among thorns.
4. Give yourselves to the service of the Lord,and decide to obey him,people of Judah and people of Jerusalem.If you don’t, my anger will spread among you like a fire,and no one will be able to put it out,because of the evil you have done.
5. “Announce this message in 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,because I am bringing disaster from the northThere 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 destroyedwith no one 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 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 of the desert toward the Lord’s people. It is not a gentle wind to separate grain from chaff.
12. I feel a stronger wind than that. Now even I will announce judgments against the people of Judah.”
13. Look! The enemy rises up like a cloud,and his chariots come like a tornado.His horses are faster than eagles.How terrible it will be for us! We are ruined!