Evil from the North
5 Declare in Judah and make it heard in Jerusalem and say,
“aBlow the trumpet in the land;
Call out, make your voice full, and say,
‘bGather yourselves, and let us go
Into the fortified cities.’
6 Lift up a astandard toward Zion!
Seek safety, do not stand still,
For I am bringing bevil from the north,
And great destruction.
7 A alion has gone up from his thicket,
And a bdestroyer of nations has set out;
He has gone out from his place
To cmake your land a desolation.
Your cities will be turned into ruins
Without inhabitant.
8 For this, aI gird myself with sackcloth,
Lament and wail;
For the bburning anger of Yahweh
Has not turned back from us.”
9 “It will be in that day,” declares Yahweh, “that the aheart of the king and the heart of the princes will perish; and the priests will be appalled, and the bprophets will be astonished.”
10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Surely You have utterly adeceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘bYou will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.”
11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A ascorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness along the way of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse, 12 a wind too full for these things—will come for My purpose; now I will also speak judgments against them.
13 Behold, he agoes up like clouds,
And his bchariots like the whirlwind;
His horses are cswifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for dwe are devastated!”
14 Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,
That you may be saved.
How long will your awicked thoughts
Lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from aDan,
And makes wickedness heard from Mount Ephraim.
16 “Make mention of it to the nations, saying, ‘Behold!’
Make it heard over Jerusalem,
‘Besiegers come from a afar country,
And bgive forth their voices against the cities of Judah.
17 Like watchmen of a field they are aagainst her round about
Because she has brebelled against Me,’ declares Yahweh.
18 Your aways and your deeds
Have done these things to you.
This is your evil. How bbitter!
How it has touched your heart!”