1. ‘If you, Israel, will return,then return to me,’declares the Lord.‘If you put your detestable idols out of my sightand no longer go astray,
2. and if in a truthful, just and righteous wayyou swear, “As surely as the Lord lives,”then the nations will invoke blessings by himand in him they will boast.’
3. This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:‘Break up your unploughed groundand do not sow among thorns.
4. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,circumcise your hearts,you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,or my wrath will flare up and burn like firebecause of the evil you have done –burn with no one to quench it.
5. ‘Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:“Sound the trumpet throughout the land!”Cry aloud and say:“Gather together!Let us flee to the fortified cities!”
6. Raise the signal to go to Zion!Flee for safety without delay!For I am bringing disaster from the north,even terrible destruction.’
7. A lion has come out of his lair;a destroyer of nations has set out.He has left his placeto lay waste your land.Your towns will lie in ruinswithout inhabitant.