16 Therefore thus says the Lord, (A)the God of hosts, the Lord:

“In all the squares (B)there shall be wailing,
    and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’
They shall call the farmers to mourning
    and (C)to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,
17 and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,
    for (D)I will pass through your midst,”
says the Lord.

Let Justice Roll Down

18 Woe to you who desire (E)the day of the Lord!
    Why would you have the day of the Lord?
(F)It is darkness, and not light,
19     (G)as if a man fled from a lion,
    and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
    and a serpent bit him.
20 (H)Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?

Read full chapter

16 Therefore thus says Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, Adonai:

“In all public squares there will be lamentation,
in all the streets they will cry, ‘Oh, no!’
They will summon farmers to mourn
and professional mourners to wail.
17 There will be wailing in every vineyard,
for I will pass through among you,” says Adonai.

18 Woe to you who want the Day of Adonai!
Why do you want it, this Day of Adonai?
It is darkness, not light;
19 as if someone were to run from a lion,
just to be met by a bear;
as if he entered a house, put his hand on the wall,
just to be bitten by a snake.
20 Won’t the Day of Adonai be darkness, not light,
completely dark, with no brightness at all?

Read full chapter