⁵ 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.’
⁶ Raise a ^(C)flag toward Zion!
Take refuge, do not stand still,
For I am bringing ^(D)evil from the north,
And great destruction.
⁷ 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.

¹⁴ Why are we sitting still?
^(A)Assemble yourselves, and let’s ^(B)go into the fortified cities
And perish there,
For the Lord our God has doomed us
And given us ^(C)poisoned water to drink,
Because ^(D)we have sinned against the Lord.