1  Gather together, yes, gather,

O ^sshameless nation,

2  ^tbefore the decree takes effect¹

—before the day passes away ^ulike chaff—

^vbefore there comes upon you

the burning anger of the Lord,

before there comes upon you

the day of the anger of the Lord.

3  ^wSeek the Lord, ^xall you humble of the land,

who do his just commands;²

^yseek righteousness; seek humility;

^yperhaps ^zyou may be hidden

on the day of the anger of the Lord.

1  Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

^fthe oppressing city!

2  She listens to no voice;

^gshe accepts no correction.

^hShe does not trust in the Lord;

she does not draw near to her God.

3  ⁱHer officials within her

are roaring lions;

her judges are ^jevening wolves

that leave nothing till the morning.

4  ^kHer prophets are fickle, treacherous men;

^kher priests ^lprofane what is holy;

they do violence to the law.

5  The Lord within her ^mis righteous;

he does no injustice;

every morning he shows forth his justice;

each dawn he does not fail;

but ⁿthe unjust knows no shame.

6  ^o“I have cut off nations;

their battlements are in ruins;

I have laid waste their streets

^pso that no one walks in them;

their cities have been made desolate,

without a man, without an inhabitant.

7  ^qI said, ‘Surely you will fear me;

^ryou will accept correction.

Then your¹ dwelling would not be cut off

according to all that I have appointed against you.’²

But ^sall the more they were eager

to make all their deeds corrupt.