13. In such times the wise man will keep quiet,because it is a bad time.
14. Try to do good, not evil.Then you will live.And the Lord God of heaven’s armies will be with youjust as you say he is.
15. Hate evil and love good.Be fair in the courts.Maybe the Lord God of heaven’s armies will be kindto the people of Joseph who are left alive.
16. This is what the Lord, the Lord God of heaven’s armies, says:“People will be crying in all the public places.They will be saying, ‘Oh, no!’ in the streets.They will call the farmers to come and weep.They will pay people to cry out loud for them.
17. People will be crying in all the vineyards.This is because I will pass among you to punish you,” says the Lord.
18. How terrible it will be for you who wantthe Lord’s day of judging to come.Why do you want that day to come?It will bring darkness for you, not light.
19. It will be like a man who runs from a lionand meets a bear.It will be like him going into his houseand putting his hand on the wall.And then a snake bites him.
20. So the Lord’s day of judging will bring darkness, not light.It will be a time of sadness, not joy.
21. The Lord says, “I hate and reject your feasts.I cannot stand your religious meetings.
22. You offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings.But I won’t accept them.You bring the best fellowship offerings.But I will ignore them.
23. Take the noise of your songs away from here!I won’t listen to the music of your harps.
24. But let justice flow like a river.Let goodness flow like a never-ending stream.
25. “People of Israel, you did not bring me sacrifices and offeringswhile you traveled in the desert for 40 years.