17. Your vineyards will be filledwith crying and weeping,because I will punish you.I, the Lord, have spoken!
18. You look forward to the daywhen the Lord comes to judge.But you are in for trouble!It won't be a time of sunshine;all will be darkness.
19. You will run from a lion,only to meet a bear.You will escape to your house,rest your hand on the wall,and be bitten by a snake.
20. The day when the Lord judgeswill be dark, very dark,without a ray of light.
21. I, the Lord, hate and despiseyour religious celebrationsand your times of worship.
22. I won't accept your offeringsor animal sacrifices—not even your very best.
23. No more of your noisy songs!I won't listenwhen you play your harps.
24. But let justice and fairnessflow like a riverthat never runs dry.
25. Israel, for forty yearsyou wandered in the desert,without bringing offeringsor sacrifices to me.