1 “If you will come back, Israel,then come back to me,” says the Lord.“Throw away your idols that I hate.Don’t wander away from me.
2 Then you may say when you make a promise,‘As surely as the Lord lives.’And you can say it in a truthful, honest and right way.Then the nations will be blessed by the Lord.And they will praise the Lord for what he has done.”
3 This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:“Plow your unplowed fields.Don’t plant seeds among the thorns.
4 Give yourselves to the service of the Lord.Decide to obey him.Do this, men of Judah and people of Jerusalem.If you don’t, my anger will spread among you like a fire.No one will be able to put it outbecause of the evil you have done.
5 “Announce this message to Judah and say it in Jerusalem:‘Blow the trumpet throughout the country!’Shout out loud and say,‘Come together!Let’s all escape to the strong, walled cities!’
6 Raise the signal flag toward Jerusalem!Run for your lives! And don’t wait!Do this because I am bringing disaster from the north.It will be terrible destruction.”