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?”
11-12. When disaster comes, the Lord will tell you people of Jerusalem,“I am sending a stormfrom the desert—not a welcome breeze.And it will sweep you awayas punishment for your sins.
13. Look! The enemy armyswoops down like an eagle;their cavalry and chariotsrace faster than storm cloudsblown by the wind.”Then you will answer,“We are doomed!”
14. But Jerusalem, there is still timefor you to be saved.Wash the evil from your heartsand stop making sinful plans,
15. before a message of disasterarrives from the hills of Ephraimand the town of Dan.
16-17. The Lord said,“Tell the nations that my peoplehave rebelled against me.And so an army will comefrom far awayto surround Jerusalemand the towns of Judah.I, the Lord, have spoken.
18. “People of Judah,your hearts will be in pain,but it's your own faultthat you will be punished.”
19. I can't stand the pain!My heart pounds,as I twist and turn in agony.I hear the signal trumpetand the battle cry of the enemy,and I cannot be silent.