1. The Lord said:Israel, if you really wantto come back to me, get ridof those disgusting idols.
2. Make promises only in my name,and do what you promise!Then all nations will praise me,and I will bless them.
3. People of Jerusalem and Judah,don't be so stubborn!Your hearts have become hard,like unploughed groundwhere thorn bushes grow.
4. With all your hearts,keep the agreementI made with you.But if you are stubbornand keep on sinning,my anger will burn like a firethat cannot be put out.
5-6. “Sound the trumpets, my people.Warn the people of Judah,‘Run for your lives!Head for Jerusalemor another walled town!’“Jeremiah, tell them I'm sendingdisaster from the north.
7. An army will come out,like a lion from its den.It will destroy nationsand leave your towns emptyand in ruins.”
8. Then I saidto the people of Israel,“Put on sackcloth!Mourn and cry out,‘The Lord is still angrywith us.’ ”
9. The Lord said,“When all this happens,the king and his officials,the prophets and the priestswill be shocked and terrified.”
10. I said, “You are the Lord God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?”