1. This message is from the Lord. “Israel, if you want to come back, then come back to me. Throw away your idols. Don’t wander farther away from me.
2. If you do these things, you will be able to use my name to make a promise. You will be able to say, ‘As the Lord lives.’ You will be able to use these words in a truthful, honest, and right way. If you do these things, the nations will be blessed by the Lord. They will brag about what the Lord has done.”
3. This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Your fields have not been plowed. Plow those fields! Don’t plant seeds among the thorns.
4. Become the Lord’S people. Change your hearts. Men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, if you don’t change, then I will become very angry. My anger will spread fast like a fire, and it will burn you up. No one will be able to put out that fire because of the evil you have done.”
5. “Give this message to the people of Judah: Tell everyone in the city of Jerusalem: ‘Blow the trumpet all over the country.’ Shout out loud and say, ‘Come together! Let us all escape to the strong cities for protection.’
6. Raise the signal flag toward Zion. Run for your lives! Don’t wait! Do this because I am bringing disaster from the north. I am bringing terrible destruction.”
7. A lion has come out of his cave. A destroyer of nations has begun to march. He has left his home to destroy your land. Your towns will be destroyed. There will be no one left to live in them.
8. The Lord is angry with us, so put on sackcloth and cry out loud!
9. The Lord says, “When this happens, the king and his officers will lose their courage. The priests will be filled with fear, and the prophets will be shocked.”
10. Then I, Jeremiah, said, “Lord GOD, you have tricked the people of Judah and Jerusalem. You said to them, ‘You will have peace.’ But now the sword is pointing at their throats!”
11. At that time this message will be given to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “A hot wind blows from the bare hills. It comes from the desert to my people. It is not like the gentle wind that is used to separate the grain from the chaff.
12. It is a stronger wind than that, and it comes from me. Now I will announce my judgment against the people of Judah.”
13. Look! The enemy rises up like a cloud. His chariots look like a windstorm. His horses are faster than eagles. It will be very bad for us! We are ruined!
14. People of Jerusalem, wash the evil from your hearts. Make your hearts pure so that you can be saved. Don’t continue making evil plans.