Jeremiah 4:5–9

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

“Blow the trumpet through the land;

cry aloud and say,

‘Assemble, and let us go

into the fortified cities!’

Raise a standard toward Zion,

flee for safety, stay not,

for I bring disaster from the north,

and great destruction.

A lion has gone up from his thicket,

a destroyer of nations has set out;

he has gone out from his place

to make your land a waste;

your cities will be ruins

without inhabitant.

For this put on sackcloth,

lament and wail,

for the fierce anger of the Lord

has not turned back from us.”

“In that day, declares the Lord, courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded.”

“Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:

‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’

Cry aloud and say:

‘Gather together!

Let us flee to the fortified cities!’

Raise the signal to go to Zion!

Flee for safety without delay!

For I am bringing disaster from the north,

even terrible destruction.”

A lion has come out of his lair;

a destroyer of nations has set out.

He has left his place

to lay waste your land.

Your towns will lie in ruins

without inhabitant.

So put on sackcloth,

lament and wail,

for the fierce anger of the Lord

has not turned away from us.

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“the king and the officials will lose heart,

the priests will be horrified,

and the prophets will be appalled.”

Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,

Blow the trumpet throughout the land.

Cry out loudly and say,

“Assemble yourselves,

and let’s flee to the fortified cities.”

Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.

Run for cover! Don’t stand still!

For I am bringing disaster from the north—

a crushing blow.

A lion has gone up from his thicket;

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.

Because of this, put on sackcloth;

mourn and wail,

for the Lord’s burning anger

has not turned away from us.

“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.”

“Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem!

Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land:

‘Run for your lives!

Flee to the fortified cities!’

Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem:

‘Flee now! Do not delay!’

For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you

from the north.”

A lion stalks from its den,

a destroyer of nations.

It has left its lair and is headed your way.

It’s going to devastate your land!

Your towns will lie in ruins,

with no one living in them anymore.

So put on clothes of mourning

and weep with broken hearts,

for the fierce anger of the Lord

is still upon us.

“In that day,” says the Lord,

“the king and the officials will tremble in fear.

The priests will be struck with horror,

and the prophets will be appalled.”

Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say,

“Blow a horn through the land,

call with a loud voice and say,

‘Be gathered and let us go into the fortified cities.’

Lift up a signal toward Zion,

bring yourselves to safety; you must not remain standing,

for I am bringing evil from the north,

and a great destruction.

A lion has gone up from his thicket,

and a destroyer of nations has set out.

He has gone out from his place to make your land as a horror,

your cities will go to ruin without inhabitant.

Because of this gird yourselves with sackcloth, lament and wail,

for the burning anger of Yahweh has not turned back from us.

And then on that day,” declares Yahweh,

“the heart of the king and the heart of the officials will be destroyed,

and the priests will be appalled,

and the prophets will be astonished.”

Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us. And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.