4. That is why I say,“Turn away from meso that I can cry bitterly.Don’t try to comfort mebecause of the destruction brought on my people.”
5. The Almighty Lord of Armies has chosen a special day.It will be a day of confusion and tramplingin the valley of Vision,⌊a day of⌋ tearing down walls and crying for helpin the mountains.
6. Elam takes its quiver of arrows,manned chariots, and horsemen.Kir uncovers its shields.
7. Then your fertile valleys will be filled with chariots,and horsemen will stand ready in front of the gate.
8. On that day the Lord will remove the defenses of Judah.You will look for weapons in the House of the Forest.
9. You will see how many places in David’s wall are broken.You will store water in the Lower Pool.
10. You will count the houses in Jerusalem.You will tear down those houses in order to fortify the walls.
11. You will build a reservoir between the two wallsto hold the water of the Old Pool.You didn’t look to Jerusalem’s maker.You didn’t see the one who formed it long ago.
12. On that day the Almighty Lord of Armieswill call for crying and for mourning,for shaving your heads and for wearing sackcloth.
13. Instead, you will rejoice, celebrate,slaughter cattle, and butcher sheep.You will eat meat, drink wine, and say,“Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we’re going to die.”
14. The Lord of Armies revealed this to me: “Certainly, this wrong will not be forgiven even when you die,” says the Almighty Lord of Armies.
15. This is what the Almighty Lord of Armies says:Go to Shebna, the man in charge of the palace, and say ⌊to him⌋,