A Call to Repentance

(Amos 5:4–15, Zephaniah 2:1–3, Luke 13:1–5)

Put on [sackcloth] and lament, O priests;

wail, O ministers of the altar.

Come, spend the night in sackcloth,

O ministers of my God,

because the grain and drink offerings

are withheld from the house of your God.

14 

Consecrate a fast;

proclaim a solemn assembly!

Gather the elders

and all the residents of the land

to the house of the LORD your God,

and cry out to the LORD.

15 

Alas for the day!

For the Day of the LORD is near,

and it will come

as destruction from the Almighty.[fn]

16 

Has not the food been cut off

before our very eyes —

joy and gladness

from the house of our God?

17 

The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods;

the storehouses are in ruins;

the granaries are broken down,

for the grain has withered away.

18 

How the cattle groan!

The herds wander in confusion

because they have no pasture

Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

19 

To You, O LORD, I call,

for fire has consumed the open pastures

and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

20 

Even the beasts of the field pant for You,

for the streams of water have dried up,

and fire has consumed the open pastures. 2