Disaster from the north

5 “Declare this [DOU] to all the people in Jerusalem and the rest of Judea;

blow the trumpets everywhere in the land to warn the people.

Tell them that they should flee to

the cities that have high walls around them.

6 Shout to the people of Jerusalem,

‘Run away now! Do not delay,

because I am about to cause you to experience a terrible disaster [DOU]

that will come from the north.

7 An army that has destroyed many nations will attack you

like [MET] a lion that comes out of its den to attack other animals.

The soldiers of that army have taken down their tents

and they are ready to march toward your land.

They will destroy your cities and leave them without any people still living in them.’

8 So, put on sackcloth/rough clothes

and weep and beat your chests

to show that you are very sorry for what you have done,

because Yahweh is still very angry with us.

9 Yahweh said that at the time he punishes you, the King of Judah and all his officials will be very afraid.

The priests and the prophets will be terrified.

10 Then I replied, “Yahweh my God, you completely deceived the people by telling them that there would be peace in Jerusalem, but now our enemies [PRS] are ready to slaughter us with their swords!”

11 When that happens, Yahweh will say to the people of Jerusalem,

“A huge army will come to attack you.

They will not be like a gentle breeze that separates wheat from chaff.

They will be like a very hot wind that blows in from the desert [MET].

12 They will be like [MET] a strong blast that I will send.

Now I am declaring that I will punish/destroy you.”

13 Our enemies are about to rush down on us; their chariots are like [SIM] whirlwinds.

Their horses are faster than eagles.

It will be terrible for us!

14 You people of Jerusalem [APO], purify your hearts/inner beings,

in order that Yahweh will rescue you.

How long will you continue to think about doing evil things?

15 From Dan city in the far north to the hills of Ephraim a few miles/kilometers north of Jerusalem messengers are proclaiming that disasters are coming.

16 Tell this to the people in other nations

but also announce it in Jerusalem:

Yahweh says, “An army is coming to Jerusalem from far away;

they will shout a battle-cry against the cities in Judah.

17 They will set up tents around Jerusalem like people set up temporary shelters [SIM] around a field at harvest time.

That will happen because the people of Judah have rebelled against me.

18 You will be punished very severely;

it will be as though a sword has stabbed your inner beings.

But you are causing those things to happen to you

because of the evil things that you have done.”

19 I am extremely anguished/sad;

the pain in my inner being is very severe.

My heart beats wildly.

But I cannot remain silent

because I have heard our enemies blowing their trumpets

to announce that the battle against Judah will start immediately.

20 Disasters will occur one after another

until the whole land is ruined.

Suddenly all our tents will be destroyed;

even the curtains inside the tents will be ripped apart.

21 How long will this battle continue?

How long will I continue to see the enemy battle flags

and hear the sound of their trumpets being blown?

22 Yahweh says, “My people are very foolish!

They do not have a relationship with me.

They are like [MET] stupid children

who do not understand anything.

They very cleverly do what is wrong,

but they do not know how to do what is good.”