Isaiah 22:1-14

A prophecy concerning the “Valley of Vision”: What’s happening with you? Why have you all gone up to the rooftops? The whole city is in an uproar. What’s happened to the once happy, bustling city? The bodies of the slain litter your streets. They were not slain by the sword on the battlefield but executed. All your leaders have fled far away, and those who were found were taken captive— before they even shot a single arrow. That is why I said, “Leave me alone to weep my bitter tears. Don’t even try to comfort me concerning my beloved people being destroyed.” The Lord YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, has a day in store—a day of tumult, trampling, and terror in the “Valley of Vision.” It is a day when they breach the walls and the people cry out to the mountain of holiness. The soldiers of Elam attacked with chariots and cavalry, armed with bows and arrows. The troops of Kir advanced with shields ready. Your lush valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen took their stand at your gates. He removed his protection from Judah. In that day, you looked for additional weapons from the storehouse of the Forest of Lebanon. You discovered the many breaches in the City of David, and you collected water in the lower pool. You inspected the houses in Jerusalem and tore some down to fortify the wall. You built a reservoir between the two walls in the city to conserve water flowing down from the old pool, but you gave no thought to the one who made it. You did not trust in the one who formed it long ago! In that day, the Lord YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, called you to repent with weeping and mourning and to show your remorse by shaving your heads and wearing sackcloth. But instead, you celebrated with joy and festivity, slaughtering the sheep and the fatted ox, saying, “We will feast on meat and drink much wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Revealed in my ears are the words of the Lord YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies: “Until your dying day, certainly I will not forgive this sin.”