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11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights[a] in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse,(A) 12 a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.11 Or the trails

11 At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind(A) from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; 12 a wind(B) too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments(C) against them.”

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Sorrow for a Doomed Nation

19 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!
    Oh, the walls of my heart!
My heart is beating wildly;
    I cannot keep silent,
for I[a] hear the sound of the trumpet,
    the alarm of war.(A)
20 Disaster overtakes disaster;
    the whole land is laid waste.
Suddenly my tents are destroyed,
    my curtains in a moment.(B)
21 How long must I see the standard
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For my people are foolish;
    they do not know me;
they are stupid children;
    they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil
    but do not know how to do good.”(C)

23 I looked on the earth, and it was complete chaos,
    and to the heavens, and they had no light.(D)
24 I looked on the mountains, and they were quaking,
    and all the hills moved to and fro.(E)
25 I looked, and there was no one at all,
    and all the birds of the air had fled.(F)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert,
    and all its cities were laid in ruins
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.(G)

27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation, yet I will not make a full end.(H)

28 Because of this the earth shall mourn
    and the heavens above grow black,
for I have spoken; I have purposed;
    I have not relented, nor will I turn back.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.19 Or for you, O my soul,

19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish!(A)
    I writhe in pain.(B)
Oh, the agony of my heart!
    My heart pounds(C) within me,
    I cannot keep silent.(D)
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;(E)
    I have heard the battle cry.(F)
20 Disaster follows disaster;(G)
    the whole land lies in ruins.(H)
In an instant my tents(I) are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.
21 How long must I see the battle standard(J)
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?(K)

22 “My people are fools;(L)
    they do not know me.(M)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.(N)
They are skilled in doing evil;(O)
    they know not how to do good.”(P)

23 I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty;(Q)
and at the heavens,
    and their light(R) was gone.
24 I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;(S)
    all the hills were swaying.
25 I looked, and there were no people;
    every bird in the sky had flown away.(T)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;(U)
    all its towns lay in ruins(V)
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.(W)

27 This is what the Lord says:

“The whole land will be ruined,(X)
    though I will not destroy(Y) it completely.
28 Therefore the earth will mourn(Z)
    and the heavens above grow dark,(AA)
because I have spoken and will not relent,(AB)
    I have decided and will not turn back.(AC)

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