4 1 "If you will return, Israel," declares our Father, "then return to me. If you put away your detestable things from my presence and do not waver, 2 and if you swear, 'As our Father lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will bless themselves in him, and in him they will glory."
3 For this is what our Father says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to our Father; remove the foreskin of your hearts, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem—or my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.
Disaster Comes From the North
5 Declare it in Judah, proclaim it in Jerusalem, and say: "Blow the trumpet throughout the land!" Cry out and say: "Gather together, and let us flee to the fortified cities!" 6 Raise a signal toward Zion! Flee for safety, do not delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, a great destruction. 7 A lion has gone up from his thicket; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will lie in ruins, with no one living in them. 8 So put on mourning clothes, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of our Father has not turned away from us.
9 "In that day," declares our Father, "the king and his officials will lose their courage; the priests will be appalled, and the prophets astounded."
10 Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign Father! Surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'You will have peace,' while the sword is at our very throat."
11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: "A scorching wind from the barren heights of the desert blows toward the daughter of my people—not to winnow and not to cleanse." a a v11 The 'daughter of my people' is a poetic way of saying 'my very own people.' 12 A wind too strong for that comes at my command. Now I will pronounce my judgments against them. 13 Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles. How terrible for us—we are ruined! 14 Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart, that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts stay within you? 15 For a voice declares it from Dan, proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim. 16 Warn the nations, announce it to Jerusalem: "Besiegers are coming from a distant land; they raise their war cry against the cities of Judah." 17 They surround her like watchmen guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me," declares our Father. 18 Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and how bitter it is, for it pierces to your very heart.
The Prophet Weeps for His People
19 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot keep silent, for I have heard the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 20 Disaster upon disaster is announced, for the whole land is laid waste. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my tent coverings in a moment. 21 How long must I see the battle flag and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 "For my people are foolish; they do not know me. They are senseless children, with no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they do not know how to do good."
23 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. 24 I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. 25 I looked, and there was no one at all; every bird of the sky had fled. 26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its cities lay in ruins before our Father, before his fierce anger.
27 For this is what our Father says: "The whole land will be desolate, yet I will not completely destroy it."
28 Because of this the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, for I have spoken, I have decided; I will not relent, and I will not turn back from it. 29 At the noise of horsemen and archers every town flees. They flee into the thickets and climb up among the rocks; every town is abandoned, with no one living in them. 30 And you, devastated one, what are you doing, dressing yourself in scarlet, adorning yourself with ornaments of gold, painting your eyes? You make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you. 31 For I heard a cry like a woman in labor, anguish like one bearing her first child—the cry of the daughter of Zion, gasping for breath, stretching out her hands: "How terrible for me! I am dying before the killers." b b v31 The 'daughter of Zion' is a poetic name for Jerusalem.