Isaiah 22

What’s going on?
Why is everyone up on their rooftops?
2  Why is everyone screaming?
What’s the panic?
I see bodies, but no sword wounds.
These people didn’t die in battle.[2]
3  The leaders tried to run away.
But they got caught and gave up without a fight.
None of your people escaped.
Everyone got caught,
Even those who made it a long way off.
4  So, I said, “Don’t look at me now.
Leave me alone. Let me cry.
Don’t try to comfort me.
These are my people dying.”

What a day in vision valley!
A day of panic and confusion
Brought here by the God of everyone.
City walls are collapsing under the attack.
People cry to distant hills for help.
6  Elam[3] attacks with archers,
Chariots, and cavalry.
Warriors of Kir[4] protect them
Behind a wall of shields.
7  Your beautiful valleys are traffic jams,
Chariots and calvary
Stacked up to the city gates.
8  Judah’s defenses are failing.

The Lord, God of all,
Ordered you to weep and mourn,
To show your regrets by shaving your heads
And wearing scratchy mourning clothes.
13  But what did you do?
You threw a party.
You laughed and had fun.
You slaughtered oxen and sheep
For a barbecue with wine.
You said,
“Let’s and eat and drink
‘cause tomorrow we die.”
14  The LORD of all spoke to me:
“You’re not going to live long enough to see me forgive these people.”

‘What are you doing?
Who said you could chisel this cliff into a tomb
Here on this very hill?
17  Look, Mr. Man in Charge,
The LORD is about to demote you.
He has got you where he wants you.
18  In the palm of his hand.
He’s going to throw you like a ball
Into someone’s left field in a different ballgame.
You’ll die in another land.
Chariots will dispose of your body,
To your master’s disgrace.
19  I’m gonna get you fired.
You won’t work here anymore.’”