14. Cleanse your heart of evil, Jerusalem,that you may be saved.How long will you entertain your destructive ideas?
15. A voice declares from Dan;someone proclaims disaster from the highlands of Ephraim.
16. Warn the nations,proclaim it to Jerusalem!Armies are approaching from a far-away country,raising their war cries against the towns of Judah.
17. They hem her in like those guarding a field,because she has rebelled against me,declares the Lord.
18. Your own conduct, your own deeds have done this to you.This is your payment and how bitter it is,piercing into the depths of your heart.
19. Oh, my suffering, my suffering!My pain is unbearable;my heart is in turmoil;it throbs nonstop.I can’t be silent, because I hear the blast of the trumpetand the roar of the battle cry!
20. Disaster follows disaster;the whole land is ruined.Suddenly, my tents are destroyed,my shelter in a moment.
21. How long must I see the battle flagsand hear the blast of the trumpet?
22. My people are foolish.They don’t even know me!They are thoughtless childrenwithout understanding;they are skilled at doing wrong,inept at doing right.
23. I looked at the earth,and it was without shape or form;at the heavensand there was no light.
24. I looked at the mountainsand they were quaking;all the hills were rocking back and forth.
25. I looked and there was no one left;every bird in the sky had taken flight.
26. I looked and the fertile land was a desert;all its towns were in ruinsbefore the Lord, before his fury.
27. The Lord proclaims:The whole earth will become a desolation,but I will not destroy it completely.
28. Therefore, the earth will grieveand the heavens grow darkbecause I have declared my planand will neither change my mindnor cancel the plan.
29. As the horsemen and archers approach,the people take flight.They hide in the bushesand escape to the cliffs.Every city is deserted;no one remains.