1. An oracle against the Valley of Vision: What’s the matter with you?Why have all of you gone up to the rooftops?
2. The noisy city, the jubilant town, is filled with revelry.Your dead did not die by the sword;they were not killed in battle.
3. All your rulers have fled together,captured without a bow.All your fugitives were captured together;they had fled far away.
4. Therefore I said,“Look away from me! Let me weep bitterly! Do not try to comfort meabout the destruction of my dear people.”
5. For the Lord God of Hostshad a day of tumult, trampling, and confusion in the Valley of Vision —people shouting and crying to the mountains;
6. Elam took up a quiverwith chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
7. Your best valleys were full of chariots,and horsemen were positioned at the gates.
8. He removed the defenses of Judah.On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest.
9. You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the city of David. You collected water from the lower pool.
10. You counted the houses of Jerusalem so that you could tear them down to fortify the wall.
11. You made a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider the One who created it long ago.
12. On that day the Lord God of Hostscalled for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads,and for the wearing of sackcloth.
13. But look: joy and gladness,butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep,eating of meat, and drinking of wine —“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die! ”