Isaiah 22:1-18 ▼

1 The oracle concerning the valley of vision. What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops?

2 You who were full of noise, You roaring city, you exultant town; Your slain were not slain with the sword, Nor did they die in battle.

3 All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were captured together, Though they had fled far away.

4 Therefore I say, “Turn your gaze away from me, Let me weep bitterly, Do not insist on comforting me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

5 For Lord Yahweh of hosts has a day of confusion, oppression, and panic In the valley of vision, A breaking down of walls And a crying to the mountain.

6 Now Elam took up the quiver With the chariots, infantry, and horsemen; And Kir uncovered the shield.

7 Then your choicest valleys were full of chariots, And the horsemen took up fixed positions at the gate.

8 And He revealed the defense of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the house of the forest,

9 And you saw that the breaches In the wall of the city of David were many; And you collected the waters of the lower pool.

10 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And tore down houses to fortify the wall.

11 And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not look to Him who made it, Nor did you see Him who formed it long ago.

12 Therefore in that day Lord Yahweh of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head, and to wearing sackcloth.

13 Instead, behold, there is joy and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”

14 But Yahweh of hosts revealed Himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity shall not be atoned for you Until you die,” says Lord Yahweh of hosts.

15 Thus says Lord Yahweh of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household,

16 ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a dwelling place for yourself in the cliff?

17 Behold, Yahweh is about to hurl you headlong, O man. And He is about to grasp you firmly

18 And He will surely roll you tightly like a ball, To be cast into a vast country; There you will die, And there your glorious chariots will be, You disgrace of your master’s house.’