“ If you will return , O Israel , return to Me , ” declares the LORD. “ If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver ,
and if you can swear , ‘ As surely as the LORD lives , ’ in tRuth - , in justice , and in righteousness , then the nations will be blessed they will glory. ”
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem : “ Break up unplowed ground , and do not sow among the thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD , and remove the foreskins of your hearts , O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise , My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it , because of your evil deeds. ”
Announce in Judah , proclaim in Jerusalem , and say : “ Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud ... and say , ‘ Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities. ’
Raise a signal flag toward Zion. Seek refuge ! Do not delay ! For I am bringing disaster from the north , and terrible destruction.
A lion has gone up from his thicket , and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
So ... put on sackcloth , mourn and wail , for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us. ”
- “ In that day , ” declares the LORD , “ the king ... and officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear , and the prophets will be astounded.”
Then I said , “ Ah , Lord GOD , how completely You have deceived ... this people and Jerusalem by saying , ‘ You will have - peace ,’ while a sword is at our throats.”
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem , “ A searing wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward the daughter of My people , but not to winnow ... or to sift ;
a wind too strong for that comes Now I also pronounce judgments against them. ”
Behold , he advances like the clouds , his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe for we are ruined !
Wash the evil from your heart , O Jerusalem , so that you may be saved. How long ... will you harbor wicked thoughts within you ?
For a voice resounds from Dan , proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
Warn the nations now ! Proclaim to Jerusalem : “ A besieging army comes from a distant land ; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
They surround her like men guarding a field , ... ... because - she has rebelled against Me , ” declares the LORD.
“ Your ways and deeds have brought this This is your punishment ; how bitter it is , ... because it pierces to the heart ! ”
My anguish , my anguish ! I writhe in pain ! Oh, the pain in my chest ! My heart pounds I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn , the alarm of battle.
Disaster after disaster is proclaimed , for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant , my curtains in a moment.
How long ... must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn ?
“ For My people - are fools ; they have not known Me. They are foolish children , without understanding. They are skilled ... in doing evil , but they know not how to do good.”
I looked - at the earth , ... and it was formless and void ; (I looked) to the heavens , and they (had) no light.
I looked at the mountains , and behold , they were quaking ; all the hills were swaying.
I looked , ... and no man was left ; all the birds of the air had fled.
I looked , ... and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD , before His fierce anger.
For this is what the LORD says : “ The whole land will be desolate , but I will not finish its destruction ....
Therefore ... the earth will mourn (and) the heavens above ... ... will grow dark. I have spoken , I have planned , and I will not relent ... or turn back .... ”
Every city flees at the sound of the horseman and archer .... They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned ; no inhabitant is left. ...
And you , O devastated one , what will you do , though you dress yourself in scarlet , though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry , though you enlarge your eyes with paint ? You adorn yourself in vain ; your lovers despise they want to take your life.
For I hear a cry like a woman in labor , a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child — the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath , stretching out her hands (to say) , “ Woe is me ... for my soul faints before the murderers ! ”