3. People of Jerusalem and Judah,don't be so stubborn!Your hearts have become hard,like unploughed groundwhere thorn bushes grow.
4. With all your hearts,keep the agreementI made with you.But if you are stubbornand keep on sinning,my anger will burn like a firethat cannot be put out.
7. An army will come out,like a lion from its den.It will destroy nationsand leave your towns emptyand in ruins.”
8. Then I saidto the people of Israel,“Put on sackcloth!Mourn and cry out,‘The Lord is still angrywith us.’ ”
9. The Lord said,“When all this happens,the king and his officials,the prophets and the priestswill be shocked and terrified.”
10. I said, “You are the Lord God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?”
13. Look! The enemy armyswoops down like an eagle;their cavalry and chariotsrace faster than storm cloudsblown by the wind.”Then you will answer,“We are doomed!”
14. But Jerusalem, there is still timefor you to be saved.Wash the evil from your heartsand stop making sinful plans,
15. before a message of disasterarrives from the hills of Ephraimand the town of Dan.
18. “People of Judah,your hearts will be in pain,but it's your own faultthat you will be punished.”