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.
8. So put on sackcloth,lament and wail,for the fierce anger of the Lordhas not turned away from us.
9. ‘In that day,’ declares the Lord,‘the king and the officials will lose heart,the priests will be horrified,and the prophets will be appalled.’
10. Then I said, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, “You will have peace,” when the sword is at our throats!’
11. At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, ‘A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows towards my people, but not to winnow or cleanse;
12. a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them.’
13. Look! He advances like the clouds,his chariots come like a whirlwind,his horses are swifter than eagles.Woe to us! We are ruined!