Jeremiah 4:5-31

Jeremiah 4:5-31

[5] 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.  [6] Set up  the standard  toward Zion:  retire,  stay  not: for I will bring  evil  from the north,  and a great  destruction.  [7] 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.  [8] For this gird  you with sackcloth,  lament  and howl:  for the fierce  anger  of the LORD  is not turned back  from us. [9] 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.  [10] Then said  I, Ah,  Lord  GOD!  surely  thou hast greatly  this people  and Jerusalem,  saying,  Ye shall have peace;  whereas the sword  reacheth  unto the soul.  [11] At that time  shall it be said  to this people  and to Jerusalem,  A dry  wind  of the high places  in the wilderness  toward  the daughter  of my people,  not to fan,  nor to cleanse,  [12] Even a full  wind  from those places shall come  unto me: now also will I give  sentence  against them. [13] Behold, he shall come up  as clouds,  and his chariots  shall be as a whirlwind:  his horses  are swifter  than eagles.  Woe  unto us! for we are spoiled.  [14] O Jerusalem,  wash  thine heart  from wickedness,  that thou mayest be saved.  How long shall thy vain  thoughts  lodge  within  [15] For a voice  declareth  from Dan,  and publisheth  affliction  from mount  Ephraim.  [16] Make ye mention  to the nations;  behold, publish  against Jerusalem,  that watchers  come  from a far  country,  and give out  their voice  against the cities  of Judah.  [17] As keepers  of a field,  are they against her round about;  because she hath been rebellious  against me, saith  [18] Thy way  and thy doings  have procured  these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness,  because it is bitter,  because it reacheth  unto thine heart.  [19] My bowels,  I am pained  at my very  heart;  maketh a noise  in me; I cannot hold my peace,  because thou hast heard,  O my soul,  the sound  of the trumpet,  the alarm  of war.  [20] Destruction  is cried;  for the whole land  is spoiled:  suddenly  are my tents  spoiled,  and my curtains  in a moment.  [21] How long shall I see  the standard,  and hear  the sound  of the trumpet?  [22] For my people  is foolish,  they have not known  me; they are sottish  children,  and they have none understanding:  they are wise  to do evil,  but to do good  they have no knowledge.  [23] I beheld  the earth,  and, lo, it was without form,  and void;  and the heavens,  and they had no light.  [24] I beheld  the mountains,  and, lo, they trembled,  and all the hills  moved lightly.  [25] I beheld,  and, lo, there was no man,  and all the birds  of the heavens  were fled.  [26] I beheld,  and, lo, the fruitful place  was a wilderness,  and all the cities  thereof were broken down  at the presence  of the LORD,  and by his fierce  anger.  [27] For thus hath the LORD  said,  The whole land  shall be desolate;  yet will I not make  a full end.  [28] For this shall the earth  mourn,  and the heavens  above  be black:  because I have spoken  it, I have purposed  it, and will not repent,  neither will I turn back  [29] The whole city  shall flee  for the noise  of the horsemen  and bowmen;  they shall go  into thickets,  and climb up  upon the rocks:  every city  shall be forsaken,  and not a man  dwell  therein.  [30] And when thou art spoiled,  what wilt thou do?  Though thou clothest  thyself with crimson,  though thou deckest  thee with ornaments  of gold,  though thou rentest  thy face  with painting,  in vain  shalt thou make thyself fair;  thy lovers  will despise  thee, they will seek  thy life.  [31] For I have heard  a voice  as of a woman in travail,  and the anguish  as of her that bringeth forth her first child,  the voice  of the daughter  of Zion,  that bewaileth  herself, that spreadeth  her hands,  saying, Woe  is me now! for my soul  is wearied  because of murderers.