1  The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops? 2  Thou that wast full of stir, a town of tumult, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. 3  All thy rulers have fled together, they are taken prisoners without the bow: all that are found of thee are made prisoners together; they were fleeing far off. 4  Therefore said I, Look away from me; let me weep bitterly: labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. 5  For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the valley of vision; a day of breaking down the wall, and of crying to the mountain: 6  —Elam beareth the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen; and Kir uncovereth the shield. 7  And it shall come to pass that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8  And he uncovereth the covering of Judah: and thou didst look in that day to the armour in the house of the forest; 9  and ye have seen the breaches of the city of David, that they are many; and ye have gathered together the waters of the lower pool; 10  and ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and have broken down the houses to fortify the wall; 11  and ye have made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not had regard unto the maker thereof, neither have ye looked unto him that fashioned it long ago. 12  And in that day did the Lord Jehovah of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth; 13  and behold joy and rejoicing, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: —Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.