16. But the holy Lord God All-Powerful is praised, because he has shown who he is by bringing justice.
17. His people will be like sheep grazing in their own pasture, and they will take off what was left by others.
18. You are in for trouble! The lies you tell are like ropes by which you drag along sin and evil.
19. And you say, “Let the holy God of Israel hurry up and do what he has promised, so we can see it for ourselves.”
20. You are headed for trouble! You say wrong is right, darkness is light, and bitter is sweet.
21. You think you are clever and wise.
22. And you are great at drinking and mixing drinks. But you are in for trouble.
23. You accept bribes to let the guilty go free, and you cheat the innocent out of a fair trial.
24. You will go up in flames like straw and hay! You have rejected the teaching of the holy Lord God All-Powerful of Israel. Now your roots will rot, and your blossoms will turn to dust.
25. You are the Lord's people, but you made him terribly angry, and he struck you with his mighty arm. Mountains shook, and dead bodies covered the streets like rubbish. The Lord is still angry, and he is ready to strike you again.
26. The Lord has signalled for the foreign nations to come and attack you. He has already whistled, and they are coming as fast as they can.
27. None of them are tired. They don't sleep or get drowsy, and they run without stumbling. Their belts don't come loose; their sandal straps don't break.
28. Their arrows are sharp, and their bows are ready. The hoofs of their horses are hard as flint; the wheels of their war chariots turn as fast as a whirlwind.