1
For behold, the 1Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply,a all 2support of bread, and all support of water;
23the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,
3
the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.
44And I will make boys their princes, and infantsb shall rule over them.
55And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.
6
For 6a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule";
7
in that day he will speak out, saying: "I will not be a 7healer;c in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people."
8
For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their 8speech and their deeds are against the LORD, 9defying his glorious presence.d
9
For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin 10like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! 11For they have brought evil on themselves.
1012Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, 13for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
1114Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
12
My people--15infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, 16your guides mislead you and they have swallowed upe the course of your paths.
13
The LORD 17has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.
14
The LORD will enter into judgment with the 18elders and princes of his people: "It is you who 19have devouredf the vineyard, 20the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15
What do you mean by 21crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
16
The LORD said: 22Because 23the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, 24tinkling with their feet,
17
therefore the Lord 25will strike with a scab the heads of 26the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.
18
In that day the Lord will take away 27the finery of the anklets, the 28headbands, and the 29crescents;
22
the 32festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags;
23
the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
24
Instead of 33perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a 34belt, a rope; and instead of 35well-set hair, 36baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a 37skirt of sackcloth; and 38branding instead of beauty.
25
Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle.
26
And 39her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall 40sit on the ground.