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.