1. This is a messageabout Vision Valley:Why are you celebratingon the flat roofsof your houses?
2. Your city is filledwith noisy shouts.Those who lie drunkin your streetswere not killed in battle.
3. Your leaders ran away,but they were capturedwithout a fight.No matter how far they ran,they were found and caught.
4. Then I said, “Leave me alone!Let me cry bitter tears.My people have been destroyed,so don't try to comfort me.”
5. The Lord All-Powerfulhad chosen a timefor noisy shouts and confusionto fill Vision Valley,and for everyone to begthe mountains for help.
6. The people of Elam and Kirattacked with chariotsand carried shields.
7. Your most beautiful valleyswere covered with chariots;your cities were surroundedby cavalry troops.
8. Judah was left defenceless.At that time you trusted in the weapons you had stored in Forest Palace.
9. You saw the holes in the outer wall of Jerusalem, and you brought water from the lower pool.
10. You counted the houses in Jerusalem and tore down some of them, so you could get stones to repair the city wall.
11. Then you built a large tank between the walls to store the water. But you refused to trust the God who planned this long ago and made it happen.
12. When all this happened,the Lord All-Powerful told youto weep and mourn,to shave your heads,and wear sackcloth.
13. But instead, you celebratedby feasting on beef and lamband by drinking wine,because you said,“Let's eat and drink!Tomorrow we may die.”
14. The Lord All-Powerfulhas spoken to methis solemn promise:“I won't forgive them for this,not as long as they live.”