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11 At that time, this people and Jerusalem will be told:
A blistering wind from the bare heights;
    it rages in the desert toward my people,
        not merely to winnow or cleanse.
12     This wind is too devastating for that.
Now I, even I, will pronounce my sentence against them.
13 Look! He approaches like the clouds;
        his chariots advance like a tempest,
        his horses swifter than eagles.
    How horrible! We’re doomed!
14 Cleanse your heart of evil, Jerusalem,
    that you may be saved.
    How long will you entertain your destructive ideas?
15 A voice declares from Dan;
    someone proclaims disaster from the highlands of Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations,
    proclaim it to Jerusalem!
        Armies are approaching from a far-away country,
        raising their war cries against the towns of Judah.
17 They hem her in like those guarding a field,
    because she has rebelled against me,
        declares the Lord.
18 Your own conduct, your own deeds have done this to you.
This is your payment and how bitter it is,
    piercing into the depths of your heart.

Anguish over looming disaster

19 Oh, my suffering, my suffering!
    My pain is unbearable;
    my heart is in turmoil;
    it throbs nonstop.
I can’t be silent, because I hear the blast of the trumpet
    and the roar of the battle cry!
20 Disaster follows disaster;
    the whole land is ruined.
Suddenly, my tents are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.
21 How long must I see the battle flags
    and hear the blast of the trumpet?
22 My people are foolish.
    They don’t even know me!
They are thoughtless children
    without understanding;
        they are skilled at doing wrong,
        inept at doing right.
23 I looked at the earth,
    and it was without shape or form;
        at the heavens
        and there was no light.
24 I looked at the mountains
    and they were quaking;
    all the hills were rocking back and forth.
25 I looked and there was no one left;
    every bird in the sky had taken flight.
26 I looked and the fertile land was a desert;
    all its towns were in ruins
        before the Lord,
        before his fury.
27 The Lord proclaims:
    The whole earth will become a desolation,
        but I will not destroy it completely.
28 Therefore, the earth will grieve
    and the heavens grow dark
        because I have declared my plan
        and will neither change my mind
            nor cancel the plan.

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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.”

13 Look! He advances like the clouds,(D)
    his chariots(E) come like a whirlwind,(F)
his horses(G) are swifter than eagles.(H)
    Woe to us! We are ruined!(I)
14 Jerusalem, wash(J) the evil from your heart and be saved.(K)
    How long(L) will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15 A voice is announcing from Dan,(M)
    proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.(N)
16 “Tell this to the nations,
    proclaim concerning Jerusalem:
‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land,(O)
    raising a war cry(P) against the cities of Judah.(Q)
17 They surround(R) her like men guarding a field,
    because she has rebelled(S) against me,’”
declares the Lord.
18 “Your own conduct and actions(T)
    have brought this on you.(U)
This is your punishment.
    How bitter(V) it is!
    How it pierces to the heart!”

19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish!(W)
    I writhe in pain.(X)
Oh, the agony of my heart!
    My heart pounds(Y) within me,
    I cannot keep silent.(Z)
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;(AA)
    I have heard the battle cry.(AB)
20 Disaster follows disaster;(AC)
    the whole land lies in ruins.(AD)
In an instant my tents(AE) are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.
21 How long must I see the battle standard(AF)
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?(AG)

22 “My people are fools;(AH)
    they do not know me.(AI)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.(AJ)
They are skilled in doing evil;(AK)
    they know not how to do good.”(AL)

23 I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty;(AM)
and at the heavens,
    and their light(AN) was gone.
24 I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;(AO)
    all the hills were swaying.
25 I looked, and there were no people;
    every bird in the sky had flown away.(AP)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;(AQ)
    all its towns lay in ruins(AR)
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.(AS)

27 This is what the Lord says:

“The whole land will be ruined,(AT)
    though I will not destroy(AU) it completely.
28 Therefore the earth will mourn(AV)
    and the heavens above grow dark,(AW)
because I have spoken and will not relent,(AX)
    I have decided and will not turn back.(AY)

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