13. Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.
14. Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say.
15. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
16. Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the Lord: Wailing shall be in all the broad ways; and they shall say in all the streets, Alas! Alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to wailing.
17. And in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.
18. Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light.
19. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
21. I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22. Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.
23. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24. But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
25. Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
26. Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
27. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith Jehovah, whose name is the God of hosts.