Isaiah 22:1-25 CEB

[1] An oracle about the Valley of Vision. What is wrong with you, that you have all gone up to the rooftops, [2] you who are filled with noise, you roaring city, you party town? Your dead weren’t slaughtered by the sword; they didn’t die in battle. [3] All your leaders escaped together but were captured without a single bow shot. All your escapees were bound together, even though they fled far away. [4] Therefore, I said, “Don’t look at me; let me weep bitterly. Don’t try to comfort me about the destruction of my dearly loved people.” [5] The LORD God of heavenly forces has a day of tumult and trampling and turmoil in the Valley of Vision, a breaking down of walls, a cry for help to the mountains. [6] Elam carried the quiver with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. [7] Your finest valleys were filled with chariots, and horsemen doggedly guarded the gate. [8] Judah’s covering has been stripped away. On that day, you trusted the weapons in the Forest House. [9] You observed the many broken defenses in David’s City, and you collected the waters of the lower pool. [10] You counted Jerusalem’s houses, and you tore down houses to fortify the wall. [11] You made a reservoir between the walls for the water of the earlier pool. But you didn’t trust its maker; you didn’t consider the one who planned it long ago. [12] The LORD God of heavenly forces called on that day for weeping and mourning, and shaven heads, and wearing of mourning clothes. [13] But instead there was fun and frivolity, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Eat and drink! Tomorrow we will die!” [14] But the LORD of heavenly forces has revealed in my hearing: This iniquity won’t be forgiven you until you die, says the LORD God of heavenly forces. [15] The LORD God of heavenly forces says, Go now to this official, to Shebna, who is in charge of the house, and say to him: [16] What do you have here—and whom do you have here—that you have hewed out a tomb for yourself, you who cuts his grave on high and carves himself a home in the cliff? [17] The LORD is about to hurl you down, mighty man! He is surely going to cover you with darkness; [18] he will indeed unroll your head wrapping, rolling it like a ball into the open country. There you will die, with your glorious chariots, you disgrace to the house of your master! [19] I will thrust you from your monument; you will be pulled down from your platform. [20] On that day, I will call my servant Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son. [21] I will give him your robe and wrap him in your sash, and I will hand over to him your authority. He will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. [22] I will place the key to David’s house on his shoulder; what he opens no one will close, and what he closes no one will open. [23] I will fasten him securely like a tent peg, and he will be a throne of honor for his ancestors’ house. [24] All the honor of his household will hang on him, the offspring and the offshoots, every little dish, every bowl, every jar. [25] On that day, says the LORD of heavenly forces, the peg that is fastened securely will give way; it will be cut down, and it will fall, and all the load hanging on it will be lost. The LORD has spoken.