The Lord Demands Justice

5:18 Woe53 to those who wish for the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the Lord’s day of judgment to come?

It will bring darkness, not light.

5:19 Disaster will be inescapable,54

as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear,

then escaped55 into a house,

leaned his hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a poisonous snake.

5:20 Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring56 darkness, not light—

gloomy blackness, not bright light?

5:21 “I absolutely despise57 your festivals!

I get no pleasure58 from your religious assemblies!

5:22 Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings,59 I will not be satisfied;

I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.60

5:23 Take away from me your61 noisy songs;

I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments.62

5:24 Justice must flow like torrents of water,

righteous actions63 like a stream that never dries up.

5:25 You did not bring me64 sacrifices and grain offerings during the forty years you spent in the wilderness, family65 of Israel.

5:26 You will pick up your images66 of Sikkuth,67 your king,68

and Kiyyun,69 your star god, which you made for yourselves,

5:27 and I will drive you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord.

He is called the God who commands armies!