18  Woe to you who desire ^lthe day of the Lord!

Why would you have the day of the Lord?

^mIt is darkness, and not light,

19  ⁿas if a man fled from a lion,

and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

and a serpent bit him.

20  ^mIs not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

21  ^o“I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22  ^pEven though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

23  Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to ^qthe melody of your harps I will not listen.

24  But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.