Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

¹ For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts

is about to remove

from Jerusalem and Judah

both supply and support:^*

the whole supply of food and water,

² the mighty man and the warrior,

the judge and the prophet,

the soothsayer^* and the elder,

³ the commander of fifty and the dignitary,

the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

⁴ “I will make mere lads their leaders,

and children will rule over them.”

⁵ The people will oppress one another,

man against man, neighbor against neighbor;

the young will rise up against the old,

and the base against the honorable.

⁶ A man will seize^* his brother

within his father’s house:

“You have a cloak— you be our leader!

Take charge of this heap of rubble.”

⁷ On that day he will cry aloud^*:

“I am not a healer.^*

I have no food or clothing in my house.

Do not make me leader of the people!”

⁸ For Jerusalem has stumbled

and Judah has fallen

because they spoke and acted against the LORD,

defying His glorious presence.^*

⁹ The expression on their faces testifies against them,

and like Sodom they flaunt their sin;

they do not conceal it.

Woe to them,

for they have brought^* disaster upon themselves.

¹⁰ Tell the righteous it will be well with them,

for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.^*

¹¹ Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them!

For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

¹² Youths^* oppress^* My people,

and women rule^* over them.

O My people, your guides mislead you;

they turn you from your paths.

¹³ The LORD arises to contend;

He stands to judge^* the people.

¹⁴ The LORD brings this charge

against the elders and leaders of His people:

“You have devoured the vineyard;

the plunder of the poor is in your houses.

¹⁵ Why do you crush My people

and grind the faces of the poor?”

declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

A Warning to the Daughters of Zion

¹⁶ The LORD also says:

“Because the daughters^* of Zion are haughty —

walking with heads held high

and wanton eyes,

prancing and skipping as they go,

jingling the bracelets on their ankles —

¹⁷ the Lord will bring sores

on the heads of the daughters of Zion,

and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”^*

¹⁸ In that day the Lord will take away their finery:

their anklets and headbands and crescents;

¹⁹ their pendants, bracelets, and veils;

²⁰ their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes;

their perfume bottles^* and charms;

²¹ their signet rings and nose rings;

²² their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;

²³ and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

²⁴ Instead of fragrance

there will be a stench;

instead of a belt, a rope;

instead of styled hair, baldness;

instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;

instead of beauty, shame.

²⁵ Your men will fall by the sword,

and your warriors in battle.

²⁶ And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn;

destitute,^* she will sit on the ground.