13. That is why a wise person remains silent at such times,because those times are so evil.
14. Search for good instead of evil so that you may live.Then the Lord God of Armies will be with you, as you have said.
15. Hate evil and love good.Then you will be able to have justice in your courts.Maybe the Lord God of Armieswill have pity on the faithful few of Joseph.
16. This is what the Lord, the Almighty God of Armies, says:There will be loud crying in every city square,and people will say in every street, “Oh, no!”They will call on farmers to mournand on professional mourners to cry loudly.
17. There will be loud crying in every vineyard,because I will pass through your land ⌊with death⌋.The Lord has said this.
18. How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of the Lord!Why do you long for that day?The day of the Lord is one of darkness and not light.
19. It is like a person who flees from a liononly to be attacked by a bear.It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wallonly to be bitten by a snake.
20. The day of the Lord brings darkness and not light.It is pitch black, with no light.
21. I hate your festivals; I despise them.I’m not pleased with your religious assemblies.
22. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,I won’t accept them.I won’t even look at the fellowship offerings of your choicest animals.
23. Spare me the sound of your songs.I won’t listen to the music of your harps.
24. But let justice flow like a riverand righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
25. Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offeringsin the desert for 40 years, nation of Israel?
26. You carried along the statues of ⌊the god⌋ Sikkuth as your kingand the star Kiyyun,the gods you made for yourselves.
27. I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,says the Lord, whose name is the God of Armies.