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16 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:
In all the squares there shall be wailing,
    and in all the streets they shall say, “Alas! Alas!”
They shall call the farmers to mourning
    and those skilled in lamentation to wailing;(A)
17 in all the vineyards there shall be wailing,
    for I will pass through the midst of you,
            says the Lord.(B)

The Day of the Lord a Dark Day

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
    Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light,(C)
19     as if someone fled from a lion
    and was met by a bear
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall
    and was bitten by a snake.(D)
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?(E)

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16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says,
    the God of Armies, who is the Lord:
    In the city squares there will be grief,
    and in the streets they will say, “Woe, woe!”
    They will summon the farmer to mourn
    and the professional mourners to sing laments.
17 In all the vineyards there will be grief,
    because I will pass through your midst, says the Lord.

The Day of the Lord Brings Darkness

18 Woe to those who long for the Day of the Lord!
    What good will the Day of the Lord be for you?
    It will be darkness and not light.
19 It will be as if a man flees from a lion,
    but a bear meets him,
    or he enters a house and rests his hand on a wall,
    but a snake bites him.
20 Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness and not light,
    gloom without a trace of brightness?

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