The Coming Judgment on Judah

2 I will utterly sweep away everything

from the face of the earth, says the Lord.

3 I will sweep away humans and animals;

I will sweep away the birds of the air

and the fish of the sea.

I will make the wicked stumble.a

I will cut off humanity

from the face of the earth, says the Lord.

4 I will stretch out my hand against Judah,

and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

and I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal

and the name of the idolatrous priests;b

5 those who bow down on the roofs

to the host of the heavens;

those who bow down and swear to the Lord,

but also swear by Milcom;c

6 those who have turned back from following the Lord,

who have not sought the Lord or inquired of him.

7 Be silent before the Lord God!

For the day of the Lord is at hand;

the Lord has prepared a sacrifice,

he has consecrated his guests.

8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials and the king’s sons

and all who dress themselves in foreign attire.

9 On that day I will punish

all who leap over the threshold,

who fill their master’s house

with violence and fraud.

10 On that day, says the Lord,

a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

a wail from the Second Quarter,

a loud crash from the hills.

11 The inhabitants of the Mortar wail,

for all the traders have perished;

all who weigh out silver are cut off.

12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

and I will punish the people

who rest complacentlyd on their dregs,

those who say in their hearts,

“The Lord will not do good,

nor will he do harm.”

13 Their wealth shall be plundered,

and their houses laid waste.

Though they build houses,

they shall not inhabit them;

though they plant vineyards,

they shall not drink wine from them.