Isaiah 22:1-14 - Oracle Against Jerusalem

¹ A message concerning the Valley of Vision. "What troubles you, now that you've all gone up to the rooftops, ² you who are full of commotion, you passionate city, you rollicking town? Your slain weren't killed by the sword, nor are they dead in battle. ³ All your leaders have fled together; she is captured without using bows. All of you who were caught were captured together, although they had fled while the enemy was still far away. ⁴ Therefore I said: "Look away from me; and let me weep bitter tears; don't try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people." ⁵ For to the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies belongs the day of tumult, trampling, and confusion in the Valley of Vision, and the pulling down of his Temple on its mountain. ⁶ Elam takes up the quiver with chariots and cavalry, while Kir unsheathes the shield. ⁷ And it will come about that your choicest valleys will be filled with chariots, and horsemen will take their positions at the gates. ⁸ He has uncovered the defenses of Judah." ⁹ At that time, you looked at the arsenal of the Palace of the Forest, and saw that there were many breaches in the City of David. So you stored up water from the Lower Pool, ¹⁰ counted the houses of Jerusalem, tore down certain houses to strengthen the wall, ¹¹ and built a reservoir between the walls to store water from the Old Pool. But you did not look at the One who did it, nor did you see the One who planned it long ago.

¹² On that day the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies called for weeping and mourning, for shaving heads and wearing sackcloth. ¹³ But look! There is joy and festivity, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. "Let us eat and drink, you say, because we die tomorrow." ¹⁴ "Nevertheless, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies has revealed himself to my hearing: ""Surely because of you this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,' says the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies."