“I, YAHWEH, declare that I will certainly sweep away
every living thing from the land—
animals and humans, birds and fish.
I will topple the wicked and their idols
and sweep away man from the land.”
“I will punish Judah and all who live in Jerusalem.
I will wipe out every trace of Baal from the land
along with the names of the pagan priests
or any priest who has turned away from me.
I will punish those who bow down on their rooftops
to worship the sun, moon, and stars
and those with divided loyalties who bow before YAHWEH
and swear allegiance to me
but also swear their oaths in the name of their king.
I, YAHWEH, will punish those
who have turned their back on me,
who do not seek me nor pray for me to guide them.”
YAHWEH
Be silent before the Lord God,
for the day of YAHWEH is near.
“I have prepared a sacrifice
and have consecrated my invited guests.
On the day of YAHWEH’s sacrifice,
I will punish the royal family, your officials,
and all who dress like pagan priests.
At that time, I will punish
all who worship Dagon
and fill the palace of their rulers
with violence and deception.
“I, YAHWEH, declare:
A cry for help will be heard from the Fish Gate in Jerusalem,
wailing from the wealthier, newer part of the city.
A loud crash will echo from the hills.
Wail, you who live in the market area
because all the merchants will be dead,
and those who weigh out silver will be wiped out.
“When that time comes,
I will search Jerusalem with lamps
and punish those stagnating
in their self-satisfied smugness.
They say in their hearts,
‘YAHWEH is aloof and can do nothing for us,
either good or bad.’
Yet all their hoarded wealth will be looted
and their houses leveled.
They will build houses but never move in,
plant vineyards but never drink the wine.”
The great day of YAHWEH is near,
right around the corner, closer than you think and coming fast.
How bitter will be the sound of the day of YAHWEH,
when even the brave warriors weep in anguish.
It will be a day of wrath,
a day of terror and trouble,
a day of desolation and distress,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
a day of shofar blasts and battle shouts
against fortified cities
and all the lofty towers.
“I will bring such distress on people
that they will grope their way like the blind
for having sinned against me.
Their blood will be poured out like dust,
yes, their flesh like dung.
On that day, I will display my great anger,
and none of their silver or gold will save them.
My avenging zeal will burn like a fire on that day,
to consume the entire land.
For I will bring a terrible and sudden end
that will destroy everyone living in the land.”
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