For messengers are coming, heralding disaster, from the city of Dan and from the hills of Ephraim. ¹ 

Then people will come here from the towns in Judah, from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the western foothills, from the southern hill country, and from the southern part of Judah. They will come bringing offerings to the temple of the Lord: burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense along with their thank offerings. ¹ 

Cries of anguish will come from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.

in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year, ¹  832 people from Jerusalem;

“I will deliver you from the power of the wicked. I will free you from the clutches of violent people.”

You people of Israel should tell those nations this: ‘These gods did not make heaven and earth. They will disappear ¹  from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ² 

So I, the Lord, affirm ¹  that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me. ² 

Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon? Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow? ¹ 

Can you people who are like iron and bronze break that iron fist from the north? ¹ 

“Get out of Babylon, my people! Flee to save your lives from the fierce anger of the Lord! ¹ 

Your misdeeds have stopped these things from coming. ¹  Your sins have deprived you of my bounty.’ ² 

For I see everything they do. Their wicked ways are not hidden from me. Their sin is not hidden away where I cannot see it. ¹ 

I take no delight ¹  when they offer up to me ²  frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’ ³ 

Cries of anguish raised from Heshbon and Elealeh will be sounded as far as Jahaz. ¹  They will be sounded from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. For even the waters of Nimrim will be dried up.

Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For he rescues the oppressed from the clutches of evildoers. ¹ 

For the Lord will rescue the descendants of Jacob. He will secure their release ¹  from those who had overpowered them. ² 

Like a lion that has come up from its lair ¹  the one who destroys nations has set out from his home base. ²  He is coming out to lay your land waste. Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.

So put on sackcloth! Mourn and wail, saying, ‘The fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us!’” ¹ 

All those people that Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.

“Look! An army is about to come from the north. A mighty nation and many kings ¹  are stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.