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 place
to lay waste your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins
without inhabitant.
8
So put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the Lord
has 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 toward 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!
14
Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15
A voice is announcing from Dan,
proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
16
"Tell this to the nations,
proclaim concerning Jerusalem:
'A besieging army is coming from a distant land,
raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
17
They surround her like men guarding a field,
because she has rebelled against me,' "
declares the Lord.
18
"Your own conduct and actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!"