3. Yes, the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground,you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning;just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted,you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.
4. Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskinas an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lordand get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me,people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against youthat no one will be able to extinguish.That will happen because of the evil you have done.”
5. The Lord said,“Announce this in Judah and proclaim it in Jerusalem:‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’Shout out loudly,‘Gather together! Let us flee into the fortified cities!’
6. Raise a signal flag that tells people to go to Zion.Run for safety! Do not delay!For I am about to bring disaster out of the north.It will bring great destruction.
7. Like a lion that has come up from its lairthe one who destroys nations has set out from his home base.He is coming out to lay your land waste.Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.
8. So put on sackcloth!Mourn and wail, saying,‘The fierce anger of the Lordhas not turned away from us!’”
9. “When this happens,” says the Lord,“the king and his officials will lose their courage.The priests will be struck with horror,and the prophets will be speechless in astonishment.”
10. In response to all this I said, “Ah, Lord God, you have surely allowed the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be deceived by those who say, ‘You will be safe!’ But in fact a sword is already at our throats.”
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?”