16. The Lord God rules over all. The Lord says, "People will sob in all of the streets. They will be very sad in every market place. Even farmers will be told to cry loudly. People will sob over the dead.
17. Workers will cry in all of the vineyards. That is because I will punish you," says the Lord.
18. How terrible it will be for you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you want it to come? That day will be dark, not light.
19. It will be like a man running away from a lion only to meet a bear. He enters his house and rests his hand on a wall only to be bitten by a snake.
20. The day of the Lord will be dark, not light. It will be very black. There won't be a ray of sunlight anywhere.
21. The Lord says, "I hate your holy feasts. I can't stand them. I hate it when you gather together.
22. You bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings. But I will not accept them. You bring your best friendship offerings. But I will not even look at them.
23. Take the noise of your songs away! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24. I want you to treat others fairly. So let fair treatment roll on just as a river does! Always do what is right. Let right living flow along like a stream that never runs dry!
25. "People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for 40 years in the desert?