Jeremiah 4:13–22

¹³Look, he advances like clouds;^ab

his chariots are like a storm.^ac

His horses are swifter than eagles.^ad

Woe to us, for we are ruined!^ae

¹⁴Wash the evil from your heart,^af Jerusalem,

so that you will be delivered.

How long will you harbor

malicious thoughts?^ag

¹⁵For a voice announces from Dan,

proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.

¹⁶Warn the nations: Look!

Proclaim to Jerusalem:

Those who besiege are coming

from a distant land;^ah

they raise their voices

against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷They have her surrounded^a

like those who guard a field,

because she has rebelled against me.^b

This is the Lord’s declaration.

¹⁸Your way and your actions

have brought this on you.^c

This is your punishment. It is very bitter,

because it has reached your heart!

JEREMIAH’S LAMENT

¹⁹My anguish, my anguish!^D I writhe in agony!

Oh, the pain in^E my heart!^d

My heart pounds;

I cannot be silent.

For you, my soul,

have heard the sound of the trumpet—

the shout of battle.

²⁰Disaster after disaster^e is reported

because the whole land is destroyed.

Suddenly my tents are destroyed,

my tent curtains, in a moment.

²¹How long must I see the signal flag

and hear the sound of the trumpet?

²²“For my people are fools;

they do not know me.

They are foolish children,

without understanding.^f

They are skilled in doing what is evil,

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