20. What sorrow for those who saythat evil is good and good is evil,that dark is light and light is dark,that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
21. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyesand think themselves so clever.
22. What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wineand boast about all the alcohol they can hold.
23. They take bribes to let the wicked go free,and they punish the innocent.
24. Therefore, just as fire licks up stubbleand dry grass shrivels in the flame,so their roots will rotand their flowers wither.For they have rejected the law of the lord of Heaven’s Armies;they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25. That is why the lord’s anger burns against his people,and why he has raised his fist to crush them.The mountains tremble,and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage.But even then the lord’s anger is not satisfied.His fist is still poised to strike!
26. He will send a signal to distant nations far awayand whistle to those at the ends of the earth.They will come racing toward Jerusalem.
27. They will not get tired or stumble.They will not stop for rest or sleep.Not a belt will be loose,not a sandal strap broken.
28. Their arrows will be sharpand their bows ready for battle.Sparks will fly from their horses’ hooves,and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.
29. They will roar like lions,like the strongest of lions.Growling, they will pounce on their victims and carry them off,and no one will be there to rescue them.
30. They will roar over their victims on that day of destructionlike the roaring of the sea.If someone looks across the land,only darkness and distress will be seen;even the light will be darkened by clouds.