The Valley of Vision

22 This is the burden against the Valley of Vision:

What ails you now,

that you have all gone up to the rooftops,

2 O city of commotion,

O town of revelry?

Your slain did not die by the sword,

nor were they killed in battle.

3 All your rulers have fled together,

captured without a bow.

All your fugitives were captured together,

having fled to a distant place.

4 Therefore I said,

“Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly!

Do not try to console me

over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

5 For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day

of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—

of breaking down the walls

and crying to the mountains.

6 Elam takes up a quiver, with chariots and horsemen,

and Kir uncovers the shield.

7 Your choicest valleys are full of chariots,

and horsemen are posted at the gates.

8 He has uncovered

the defenses of Judah.

On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest. 9 You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the City of David. You collected water from the lower pool. 10 You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall. 11 You built a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider Him who planned it long ago.

12 On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts

called for weeping and wailing,

for shaven heads

and the wearing of sackcloth.

13 But look, there is joy and gladness,

butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,

eating of meat and drinking of wine:

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”[fn]

14 The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing:

“Until your dying day,

this sin of yours will never be atoned for,”

says the Lord GOD of Hosts.