1. Oracle on the Valley of Vision: What is the matter with you now, that you have gone up,all of you, to the housetops,
2. You who were full of noise,tumultuous city,exultant town?Your slain are not slain with the sword,nor killed in battle.
3. All your leaders fled away together,they were captured without use of bow;All who were found were captured together,though they had fled afar off.
4. That is why I say: Turn away from me,let me weep bitterly;Do not try to comfort mefor the ruin of the daughter of my people.
5. It is a day of panic, rout and confusion,from the Lord, the God of hosts, in the Valley of VisionWalls crash;a cry for help to the mountains.
6. Elam takes up the quiver,Aram mounts the horsesand Kir uncovers the shields.
7. Your choice valleys are filled with chariots,horses are posted at the gates—
8. and shelter over Judah is removed.On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest;
9. you saw that the breaches in the City of David were many; you collected the water of the lower pool.
10. You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, tearing some down to strengthen the wall;
11. you made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to the city’s Maker, nor consider the one who fashioned it long ago.
12. On that day the Lord,the God of hosts, calledFor weeping and mourning,for shaving the head and wearing sackcloth.
13. But look! instead, there was celebration and joy,slaughtering cattle and butchering sheep,Eating meat and drinking wine:“Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
14. This message was revealed in my hearing from the Lord of hosts:This iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,says the Lord, the God of hosts.
15. Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:Up, go to that official,Shebna, master of the palace,
16. “What have you here? Whom have you here,that you have hewn for yourself a tomb here,Hewing a tomb on high,carving a resting place in the rock?”