Look, I will bring terror upon you,” says Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies. “Terror will come from every side; everyone will run away, and no one will be there to bring them back together.
But Yahweh asks, “What do I see? The army breaking ranks and retreating? Their heroes flee for their lives, beaten, defeated, and terrified, not once looking back.
For Yahweh says to you: ‘I am making you a terror to yourself and to all your friends, who will be killed in battle while you look on. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon. He will take them captive to Babylon or kill them with the sword.
Their widows became more numerous than the sands of the seas. In broad daylight, I have brought against them an unexpected destroyer to kill young men and mothers alike. Suddenly, I brought upon them terror and panic.
Guilty criminals experience paranoia even though no one threatens them. But the innocent lovers of God, because of righteousness, will have the boldness of a young, ferocious lion!
“Behold, I will summon many fishermen,” declares Yahweh, “and they will fish them out. After that, I will summon many hunters, and they will hunt them out of every mountain and hill and chase them out of their hiding places in the rocks.
“Get away! Unclean!” people shouted at them. “Keep back! Keep back! Don’t touch!” So, they fled Jerusalem and wandered to the nations, but they were not welcome to stay there either.