¹⁸ Woe to those who ^[a]draw iniquity with cords of ^[b]vanity,
And sin as if with a cart rope;
^19 (A)That say, “Let Him make speed and hasten His work,
That we may see it;
And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come,
That we may know it.”

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

²¹ Woe to those who are ^(B)wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!

²² Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,
Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
²³ Who ^(C)justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away justice from the righteous man!

²⁴ Therefore, ^(D)as the ^[c]fire devours the stubble,
And the flame consumes the chaff,
So ^(E)their root will be as rottenness,
And their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts,
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

^18 (A)Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
For what good is ^(B)the day of the Lord to you?
It will be darkness, and not light.
¹⁹ It will be ^(C)as though a man fled from a lion,
And a bear met him!
Or as though he went into the house,
Leaned his hand on the wall,
And a serpent bit him!