1 See now, the Lord,
the LORD Almighty,
is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah
both supply and support:
all supplies of food and all supplies of water, |
2 the hero and warrior,
the judge and prophet,
the soothsayer and elder, |
3 the captain of fifty and man of rank,
the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. |
4 I will make boys their officials;
mere children will govern them. |
5 People will oppress each other-
man against man, neighbor against neighbor.
The young will rise up against the old,
the base against the honorable. |
6 A man will seize one of his brothers
at his father's home, and say,
"You have a cloak, you be our leader;
take charge of this heap of ruins!" |
7 But in that day he will cry out,
"I have no remedy.
I have no food or clothing in my house;
do not make me the leader of the people." |
8 Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD ,
defying his glorious presence. |
9 The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves. |
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. |
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done. |
12 Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path. |
13 The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people. |
14 The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses. |
15 What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?"
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. |
16 The LORD says,
"The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles. |
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the LORD will make their scalps bald." |
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, |
19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, |
20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, |
21 the signet rings and nose rings, |
22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses |
23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. |
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding. |
25 Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle. |
26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn;
destitute, she will sit on the ground. |
