15. Hate evil, love good,and establish justice in the courts.It may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
16. Therefore the Lord, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:“Wailing will be in all the wide ways;and they will say in all the streets, ‘Alas! Alas!’and they will call the farmer to mourning,and those who are skilful in lamentation to wailing.
17. In all vineyards there will be wailing;for I will pass through the middle of you,” says the Lord.
18. “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!Why do you long for the day of the Lord?It is darkness,and not light.
19. As if a man fled from a lion,and a bear met him;Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall,and a snake bit him.
20. Won’t the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light?Even very dark, and no brightness in it?
21. I hate, I despise your feasts,and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies.
22. Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings,I will not accept them;neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.
23. Take away from me the noise of your songs!I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24. But let justice roll on like rivers,and righteousness like a mighty stream.
25. “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel?