6. They have turned away from me, the Lord. They have stopped following me. They no longer ask me, the Lord, for help.”
7. Be silent before the Lord GOD, because the Lord’S day for judging the people is coming soon. The Lord has prepared his sacrifice, and he has told his invited guests to get ready.
8. The Lord said, “On the Lord’S day of sacrifice, I will punish the king’s sons and other leaders. I will punish all the people wearing clothes from other countries.
9. At that time I will punish all the people who jump over the threshold and those who fill their master’s house with lies and violence.”
10. The Lord also said, “At that time people will be calling for help at Fish Gate in Jerusalem and mourning in the new part of town. They will hear the sound of destruction in the hills around the city.
11. You people living in the lower part of town will cry, because all the traders and rich merchants will be destroyed.
12. “At that time I will take a lamp and search through Jerusalem. I will find all those who are satisfied to live their own way. They say, ‘The Lord does nothing. He does not help, and he does not hurt!’ I will find them, and I will punish them.
13. Then others will take their wealth and destroy their houses. Those who built houses will not live in them, and those who planted vineyards will not drink the wine from the grapes.”
14. The Lord’S special day for judging is coming soon! It is near and coming fast. People will hear very sad sounds on the Lord’S special day of judgment. Even strong soldiers will cry.
15. The Lord will show his anger at that time. It will be a time of terrible troubles and a time of destruction. It will be a time of darkness—a black, cloudy, and stormy day.
16. It will be like a time of war when people hear horns and trumpets in the defense towers and protected cities.
17. The Lord said, “I will make life very hard on the people. They will walk around like the blind who don’t know where they are going. That will happen because they sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be spilled on the ground. Their dead bodies will lie like dung on the ground.
18. Their gold and silver will not help them! At that time the Lord will become very upset and angry. The Lord will destroy the whole world! He will completely destroy everyone on earth!”