11. “At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be told,‘A scorching wind will sweep downfrom the hilltops in the desert on my dear people.It will not be a gentle breezefor winnowing the grain and blowing away the chaff.
12. No, a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding.Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.’
13. Look! The enemy is approaching like gathering clouds.The roar of his chariots is like that of a whirlwind.His horses move more swiftly than eagles.”I cry out, “We are doomed, for we will be destroyed!”
14. “Oh people of Jerusalem, purify your hearts from evilso that you may yet be delivered.How long will you continue to harbor upwicked schemes within you?
15. For messengers are coming, heralding disaster,from the city of Dan and from the hills of Ephraim.
16. They are saying, ‘Announce to the surrounding nations, “The enemy is coming!”Proclaim this message to Jerusalem:“Those who besiege cities are coming from a distant land.They are ready to raise the battle cry against the towns in Judah.”’
17. They will surround Jerusalemlike men guarding a fieldbecause they have rebelled against me,”says the Lord.
18. “The way you have lived and the things you have donewill bring this on you.This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed.The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart.”
19. I said, “Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach! I writhe in anguish.Oh, the pain in my heart!My heart pounds within me.I cannot keep silent.For I hear the sound of the trumpet;the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul!
20. I see one destruction after another taking place,so that the whole land lies in ruins.I see our tents suddenly destroyed,their curtains torn down in a mere instant.
21. “How long must I see the enemy’s battle flagsand hear the military signals of their bugles?”
22. The Lord answered, “This will happen because my people are foolish.They do not know me.They are like children who have no sense.They have no understanding.They are skilled at doing evil.They do not know how to do good.”
23. “I looked at the land and saw that it was an empty wasteland.I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished.
24. I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking.All the hills were swaying back and forth!
25. I looked and saw that there were no more people,and that all the birds in the sky had flown away.
26. I looked and saw that the fruitful land had become a desertand that all of the cities had been laid in ruins.The Lord had brought this all aboutbecause of his blazing anger.
27. All this will happen because the Lord said,“The whole land will be desolate;however, I will not completely destroy it.
28. Because of this the land will mournand the sky above will grow black.For I have made my purpose knownand I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.”