Jeremiah 4:1-10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

4 If you return, O Israel,
            says the Lord,
    if you return to me,
if you remove your abominations from my presence
    and do not waver,^(A)
2 and if you swear, “As the Lord lives!”
    in truth, in justice, and in uprightness,
then nations shall be blessed^[a] by you,^[b]
    and by you^[c] they shall boast.^(B)

Break up your fallow ground,
    and do not sow among thorns.^(C)
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;
    remove the foreskin of your hearts,
    O people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or else my wrath will go forth like fire
    and burn with no one to quench it,
    because of the evil of your doings.^(D)

Blow the trumpet through the land;
    shout aloud^[d] and say,
“Gather together, and let us go
    into the fortified cities!”^(E)
6 Raise a standard toward Zion;
    flee for safety; do not delay,
for I am bringing evil from the north
    and a great destruction.^(F)
7 A lion has gone up from its 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.^(G)
8 Because of this put on sackcloth,
    lament and wail:
“The fierce anger of the Lord
    has not turned away from us.”^(H)