15. Hate the evil and love the good and establish justice in the [court of the city's] gate. It may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [the northern kingdom].
16. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: There shall be wailing in all the broad ways, and in all the streets they shall say, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the farmers to mourning and such as are skilled in lamentation to wailing.
17. And in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the Lord.
18. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness and not light;
19. It is as if a man fled from a lion and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall and a serpent bit him.
20. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light? Even very dark with no brightness in it?
21. I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell a savor or take delight in your solemn assemblies.
22. Though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your cereal offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I look upon the peace or thank offerings of your fatted beasts.
23. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24. But let justice run down like waters and righteousness as a mighty and ever-flowing stream.
25. Did you bring to Me sacrifices and cereal offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?