13. See! like storm clouds he advances,like a whirlwind, his chariots;Swifter than eagles, his horses:“Woe to us! we are ruined.”
14. Cleanse your heart of evil, Jerusalem,that you may be saved.How long will you entertainwicked schemes?
15. A voice proclaims it from Dan,announces wickedness from Mount Ephraim:
16. “Make this known to the nations,announce it against Jerusalem:Besiegers are coming from the distant land,shouting their war cry against the cities of Judah.”
17. Like watchers in the fields they surround her,for she has rebelled against me—oracle of the Lord.
18. Your conduct, your deeds, have done this to you;how bitter is this evil of yours,how it reaches to your very heart!
19. My body! my body! how I writhe!The walls of my heart!My heart beats wildly,I cannot be still;For I myself have heard the blast of the horn,the battle cry.
20. Ruin upon ruin is reported;the whole land is laid waste.In an instant my tents are ravaged;in a flash, my shelters.
21. How long must I see the signal,hear the blast of the horn!
22. My people are fools,they do not know me;They are senseless children,without understanding;They are wise at evil,but they do not know how to do good.
23. I looked at the earth—it was waste and void;at the heavens—their light had gone out!
24. I looked at the mountains—they were quaking!All the hills were crumbling!
25. I looked—there was no one;even the birds of the air had flown away!
26. I looked—the garden land was a wilderness,with all its cities destroyedbefore the Lord, before his blazing anger.
27. For thus says the Lord:The whole earth shall be waste,but I will not wholly destroy it.
28. Because of this the earth shall mourn,the heavens above shall darken;I have spoken, I will not change my mind,I have decided, I will not turn back.