18 Woe to you who long

for the day of the Lord!

Why do you long for the day of the Lord?

That day will be darkness, not light.

19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion

only to meet a bear,

as though he entered his house

and rested his hand on the wall

only to have a snake bite him.

20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—

pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why would you have the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, and not light,

19 as if a man fled from a lion,

and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

and a serpent bit him.

20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; Or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

18 What sorrow awaits you who say,

“If only the day of the Lord were here!”

You have no idea what you are wishing for.

That day will bring darkness, not light.

19 In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—

only to meet a bear.

Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—

and he’s bitten by a snake.

20 Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless,

without a ray of joy or hope.

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

For what good is the day of the Lord to you?

It will be darkness, and not light.

19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion,

And a bear met him!

Or as though he went into the house,

Leaned his hand on the wall,

And a serpent bit him!

20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light?

Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

18 How terrible it will be for you who want

the Lord’s day of judging to come.

Why do you want that day to come?

It will bring darkness for you, not light.

19 It will be like someone who runs from a lion

and meets a bear,

or like someone who goes into his house

and puts his hand on the wall,

and then is bitten by a snake.

20 So the Lord’s day of judging will bring darkness, not light;

it will be very dark, not light at all.

18 Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

18 Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! To what end is the day of Jehovah for you? It shall be darkness and not light: 19 as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

18 How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of the Lord! 

Why do you long for that day? 

The day of the Lord is one of darkness and not light. 

19 It is like a person who flees from a lion 

only to be attacked by a bear. 

It is like a person who goes home and puts his hand on the wall 

only to be bitten by a snake. 

20 The day of the Lord brings darkness and not light. 

It is pitch black, with no light. 

18 Woe to you who long for the Day of the Lord!

What will the Day of the Lord be for you?

It will be darkness and not light.

19 It will be like a man who flees from a lion

only to have a bear confront him.

He goes home and rests his hand against the wall

only to have a snake bite him.

20 Won’t the Day of the Lord

be darkness rather than light,

even gloom without any brightness in it?

18 Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, not light;

19 as if someone fled from a lion,

and was met by a bear;

or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a snake.

20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

18 Alas, those who desire the day of Yahweh, why is this for you the day of Yahweh? It will be darkness and not light! 19 It will be as if a man fled from a lion and a bear met him; or he went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall and a snake bit him. 20 Is not the day of Yahweh darkness and not light, and pitch dark with no brightness in it?

18 How terrible it will be for you

who long for the day of the Lord!

Why do you want it to come?

That day will be dark, not light.

19 It will be like a man running away from a lion

only to meet a bear.

He enters his house and rests his hand on a wall

only to be bitten by a snake.

20 The day of the Lord will be dark, not light.

It will be very black.

There won’t be a ray of sunlight anywhere.