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15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”(A)

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed, 18 and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

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15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,(A) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,(B) we will serve the Lord.”(C)

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake(D) the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery,(E) and performed those great signs(F) before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out(G) before us all the nations,(H) including the Amorites, who lived in the land.(I) We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.(J)

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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,(A)
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.(B)
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
    and gloom with no brightness in it?(C)

21 I hate, I despise your festivals,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.(D)
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them,
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
    I will not look upon.(E)
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like water
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.(F)

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The Day of the Lord

18 Woe to you who long
    for the day of the Lord!(A)
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?(B)
    That day will be darkness,(C) not light.(D)
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion
    only to meet a bear,(E)
as though he entered his house
    and rested his hand on the wall
    only to have a snake bite him.(F)
20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness,(G) not light—
    pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?(H)

21 “I hate,(I) I despise your religious festivals;(J)
    your assemblies(K) are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings(L) and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.(M)
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.(N)
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.(O)
24 But let justice(P) roll on like a river,
    righteousness(Q) like a never-failing stream!(R)

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