1A message about the Valley of Vision. What’s wrong with you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops?
2You were full of shouting, a noisy city, a joyful town; your slain were not killed by the sword, nor did they die in battle.
3All your leaders fled together. They were captured by archers. All who were found among you were captured together. They fled far away.
4Therefore I said, “Look away from me. I will cry bitterly. Don’t try to comfort me about the destruction of my people.”
5For it is a day of chaos, crushing, and confusion from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, in the valley of vision; walls are breaking down, and people are crying out to the mountains.
6Elam carried his quiver, with chariots of soldiers and horsemen; and Kir uncovered his shield.
7Your best valleys were filled with chariots, and the horsemen lined up for battle at the gate.
8He removed Judah's protection; and on that day, you looked to the weapons in the house of the forest.
9You saw that there were many breaches in David’s city; and you collected the water from the lower pool.
10You counted the houses in Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall.
11You also built a reservoir between the two walls for the water from the old pool. But you didn't look to the one who did this, nor did you respect the one who planned it long ago.
12On that day, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, called for weeping, mourning, shaving heads, and wearing sackcloth.
13But instead, there was joy and happiness, killing cattle and sheep, eating meat and drinking wine, saying, “Let’s eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”
14Yahweh of Armies revealed in my ears, “This sin will certainly not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
15This is what the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, says: “Go, speak to this treasurer, to Shebna, who is in charge of the palace, and say,
16‘What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to carve out a tomb for yourself here?’ He carved out a tomb high up, chiseling a dwelling place for himself in the rock!”
17Watch out, Yahweh will seize you and violently throw you away. Yes, he will grip you firmly.
18He will surely spin you around and around and throw you like a ball into a large country. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will be, you disgrace to your master’s house.
19I will remove you from your position. You will be pulled down from your office.
20On that day, I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
21I will dress him in your robe, and strengthen him with your belt. I will give your authority into his hand; and he will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22I will place the key to David’s house on his shoulder. When he opens, no one will close. When he closes, no one will open.
23I will fasten him like a nail in a secure place. He will bring honor to his father’s house.
24All the glory of his father’s house will hang on him, including the offspring and descendants, every small vessel, from cups to all the pitchers.
25"In that day," says Yahweh of Armies, "the nail fixed firmly in place will come loose. It will be cut down and fall. The load hanging on it will be cut off, because Yahweh has spoken it."