JUDGMENT FROM THE NORTH

5 Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,

Blow the trumpet throughout the land.q

Cry out loudly and say,

“Assemble yourselves,

and let’s flee to the fortified cities.”

6 Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.r

Run for cover! Don’t stand still!

For I am bringing disaster from the north—

a crushing blow.s

7 A lion has gone up from his thicket;t

a destroyer of nations has set out.

He has left his lair

to make your land a waste.

Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.u

8 Because of this, put on sackcloth;

mourn and wail,v

for the Lord’s burning angerw

has not turned away from us.

9 “On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”