Do you putoffthe dayof calamity,And would you bringnearthe seatof violence?
Can a throneof destructionbe alliedwith You, One which devisesmischiefby decree?
Becausethe sentenceagainst an evildeedis not executedquickly,thereforethe heartsof the sonsof menamong them are givenfullyto doevil.
"Yet you said,I will be a queenforever.'Thesethingsyou did not considerNorrememberthe outcomeof them.
"Come,"[they say], "let us getwine,and let us drinkheavilyof strongdrink;And tomorrowwill be like today,only moreso."
Those who atedelicaciesAre desolatein the streets;Those rearedin purpleEmbraceashpits.
"Sonof man,whatis thisproverbyou [people] have concerningthe landof Israel,saying,The daysare longand everyvisionfails'?
"Sonof man,behold,the houseof Israelis saying,'The visionthat he seesis for manyyears[from now], and he prophesiesof timesfaroff.'
"The soundof a carefreemultitudewas with her; and drunkardswere broughtfrom the wildernesswith menof the commonsort.And they putbraceletson the handsof the women and beautifulcrownson their heads.
"But they do not knowhow to dowhatis right,"declaresthe LORD,"these who hoardup violenceand devastationin their citadels."
Proclaimon the citadelsin Ashdodand on the citadelsin the landof Egyptand say,"Assembleyourselves on the mountainsof Samariaand see[the] greattumultswithinher and [the] oppressionsin her midst.
For I knowyour transgressionsare manyand your sinsare great,[You] who distressthe righteous[and] acceptbribesAnd turnasidethe poorin the gate.
Alas,you who are longingfor the dayof the LORD,For whatpurpose[will] the dayof the LORD[be] to you? It [will be] darknessand not light;
Do horsesrunon rocks?Ordoes one plowthem with oxen?Yetyou have turnedjusticeinto poisonAnd the fruitof righteousnessinto wormwood,
"Allthe sinnersof My peoplewill dieby the sword,Those who say,The calamitywill not overtakeor confrontus.'
"For the richmenof [the] city are fullof violence,Her residentsspeaklies,And their tongueis deceitfulin their mouth.
"But ifthat evilslavesaysin his heart,My masteris not coming for a long time,'
Whilethey are saying,"Peaceand safety!"thendestructionwill comeupon them suddenlylikelabor painsupon a woman with child,and they will not escape.
and saying,"Whereis the promiseof His coming?For [ever] sincethe fathersfell asleep,allcontinuesjustas it was from the beginningof creation."
for in onehoursuch greatwealthhas been laid waste!'And everyshipmasterand everypassengerand sailor,and as manyas make their livingby the sea,stoodat a distance,
