² A day of ^(A)darkness and thick darkness,
A day of clouds and dense gloom.
As the dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a ^(B)numerous and mighty people;
There has ^(C)never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
For the years from generation to generation.

¹⁸ Woe, you who are longing for the ^(A)day of Yahweh,
For what purpose will the day of Yahweh be to you?
It will be ^(B)darkness and not light;
¹⁹ As when a man ^(C)flees from a lion
And a bear meets him;
^[a]Or he goes home, leans his hand against the wall,
And a snake bites him.
²⁰ Will not the day of Yahweh be ^(D)darkness instead of light,
Even thick darkness with no brightness in it?