Judgement Against Judah and Jerusalem
1 For the Lord, the Lord of Hosts,
is taking away supply and support
from Jerusalem and from Judah,
the whole supply of bread,
and the whole supply of water,
2 the mighty man and the man of war,
the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder,
3 the captain of 50 and the dignitary,
the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.
4 I will make boys be their leaders,
and children shall rule over them.
5 The people will be oppressed,
everyone by each other,
everyone by his neighbor.
The child will behave himself proudly against the elder,
and the wicked against the honorable.
6 Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother
in the house of his father, saying,
“You have clothing, you be our ruler
and let these ruins be in your hands.”
7 In that day he will cry out,
saying, “I will not be a healer,
for in my house is neither bread nor clothing.
You shall not make me ruler of the people.”
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen,
because their words and their actions are against the Lord,
defying his glorious presence.
9 The look of their faces testify against them.
They parade their sin like Sodom.
They do not hide it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Tell the righteous, “Good!”
For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked!
Disaster is upon them,
for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
My people, those who lead you cause you to err
and destroy the way of your paths.
13 The Lord rises up to plead the case
and stands to judge the peoples.
14 The Lord will enter into judgment
with the elders of his people and their leaders:
“It is you who have eaten up the vineyard.
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean that you crush my people
and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, God of Hosts.
A Warning to the Daughters of Zion
16 Moreover the Lord said,
“Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant
and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes,
springing along, jingling ornaments on their feet,
17 therefore the Lord is bringing sores
on the crown of the head of the women of Zion,
and the Lord will make their scalps bald.”
18 In that day the Lord will take away
the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
19 the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
20 the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes,
the perfume containers, the charms,
21 the signet rings, the nose rings,
22 the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
23 the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
24 It shall happen that instead of sweet spices,
there shall be rottenness;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well set hair, baldness;
instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
and your mighty in the war.
26 Her gates shall lament and mourn.
She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.