Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,
(A)Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry aloud and say,
(B)Assemble, and let’s go
Into the fortified cities.’
Raise a (C)flag toward Zion!
Take refuge, do not stand still,
For I am bringing (D)evil from the north,
And great destruction.
A (E)lion has gone up from his thicket,
And a (F)destroyer of nations has set out;
He has gone out from his place
To (G)make your land a waste.
Your cities will be ruins,
Without an inhabitant.
For this, (H)put on sackcloth,
Mourn and wail;
For the (I)fierce anger of the Lord
Has not turned away from us.”

“And it shall come about on that day,” declares the Lord, “that the (J)heart of the king and the hearts of the leaders will fail; and the priests will tremble, and the (K)prophets will be astonished.”

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Disaster approaches

Announce in Judah,
        in Jerusalem proclaim,
    sound the alarm throughout the land,
        cry out and say,
        “Gather together!
        Let’s flee to the fortified towns!”
Set up a flag to Zion;
    take cover, don’t just stand there!
I’m bringing disaster from the north,
    massive devastation.
A lion bursts out of the thicket;
    a destroyer of nations advances.
He’s gone forth from his place
    to ravage your land,
    to wipe out your towns,
        until no one is left.
So put on funeral clothing.
    Weep and wail,
        for the Lord’s fierce anger
        hasn’t turned away from us.
On that day, declares the Lord,
    the courage of the king and his princes will fail,
    the priests will be stunned,
        and the prophets will be shocked.

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