4:3 Yes,
to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
“Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground,
you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning;
just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted,
you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.
4:4 Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin
as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment,
you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord
and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me,
people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.
If you do not,
that no one will be able to extinguish.
That will happen because of the evil you have done.”
4:5 The Lord said,
“Announce
‘Sound the trumpet
Shout out loudly,
‘Gather together! Let us flee into the fortified cities!’