²⁶ He lifts up a banner^(A) for the distant nations,
    he whistles^(B) for those at the ends of the earth.^(C)
Here they come,
    swiftly and speedily!
²⁷ Not one of them grows tired^(D) or stumbles,
    not one slumbers or sleeps;
not a belt^(E) is loosened at the waist,^(F)
    not a sandal strap is broken.^(G)
28 Their arrows are sharp,^(H)
    all their bows^(I) are strung;
their horses’ hooves^(J) seem like flint,
    their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.^(K)
29 Their roar is like that of the lion,^(L)
    they roar like young lions;
they growl as they seize^(M) their prey
    and carry it off with no one to rescue.^(N)
30 In that day^(O) they will roar over it
    like the roaring of the sea.^(P)
And if one looks at the land,
    there is only darkness^(Q) and distress;^(R)
    even the sun will be darkened^(S) by clouds.

²⁷ Zion will be delivered with justice,
    her penitent^(A) ones with righteousness.^(B)
28 But rebels and sinners^(C) will both be broken,
    and those who forsake^(D) the Lord will perish.^(E)

²⁹ “You will be ashamed^(F) because of the sacred oaks^(G)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens^(H)
    that you have chosen.
³⁰ You will be like an oak with fading leaves,^(I)
    like a garden without water.
³¹ The mighty man will become tinder
    and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
    with no one to quench the fire.^(J)”

¹⁹ People will flee to caves^(A) in the rocks
    and to holes in the ground^(B)
from the fearful presence^(C) of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,^(D)
    when he rises to shake the earth.^(E)
20 In that day^(F) people will throw away
    to the moles and bats^(G)
their idols of silver and idols of gold,^(H)
    which they made to worship.^(I)
21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks^(J)
    and to the overhanging crags
from the fearful presence of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,^(K)
    when he rises^(L) to shake the earth.^(M)

²² Stop trusting in mere humans,^(N)
    who have but a breath^(O) in their nostrils.
    Why hold them in esteem?^(P)

⁴ “I will make mere youths their officials;
    children will rule over them.”^(AA)

⁵ People will oppress each other—
    man against man, neighbor against neighbor.^(AB)
The young will rise up against the old,
    the nobody against the honored.

⁶ A man will seize one of his brothers
    in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
    take charge of this heap of ruins!”
⁷ But in that day^(AC) he will cry out,
    “I have no remedy.^(AD)
I have no food^(AE) or clothing in my house;
    do not make me the leader of the people.”^(AF)

¹⁸ “Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(A)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(B)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(C)
19 If you are willing and obedient,^(D)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(E)
20 but if you resist and rebel,^(F)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(G)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(H)