An oracle concerning the animals of the Negeb. Through a land of trouble and distress, of lioness and roaring lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels to a people that cannot profit them.
They will roar over it on that day, like the roaring of the sea. And if one look to the land— only darkness and distress; and the light grows dark with its clouds.
But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands. Walk in the flame of your fire and among the brands that you have kindled! This is what you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
Therefore justice is far from us, and deliverance does not reach us; we wait for light, but there is only darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight; while you look for light, he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, says the Lord.
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.