[1] For the Lord, the Lord of armies, is about to take away from Jerusalem
and from Judah all their support; their store of bread and of water; [2]
The strong man and the man of war; the judge and the prophet; the man who
has knowledge of secret arts, and the man who is wise because of his years;
[3] The captain of fifty, and the man of high position, and the wise guide,
and the wonder-worker, and he who makes use of secret powers. [4] And I
will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.
[5] And the people will be crushed, every one by his neighbour; the young
will be full of pride against the old, and those of low position will be
lifted up against the noble. [6] When one man puts his hand on another in
his father's house, and says, You have clothing, be our ruler and be
responsible for us in our sad condition: [7] Then he will say with an oath,
I will not be a helper, for in my house there is no bread or clothing: I
will not let you make me a ruler of the people. [8] For Jerusalem has
become feeble, and destruction has come on Judah, because their words and
their acts are against the Lord, moving the eyes of his glory to wrath. [9]
Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them; and their sin
is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse
on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full. [10] Happy is the
upright man! for he will have joy of the fruit of his ways. [11] Unhappy is
the sinner! for the reward of his evil doings will come on him. [12] As for
my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority
over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your
wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way. [13] The Lord is
ready to take up his cause against his people, and is about to come forward
as their judge. [14] The Lord comes to be the judge of their responsible
men and of their rulers: it is you who have made waste the vine-garden, and
in your houses is the property of the poor which you have taken by force.
[15] By what right are you crushing my people, and putting a bitter yoke on
the necks of the poor? This is the word of the Lord, the Lord of armies.
[16] Again, the Lord has said, Because the daughters of Zion are full of
pride, and go with outstretched necks and wandering eyes, with their
foot-chains sounding when they go: [17] The Lord will send disease on the
heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will let their secret parts be
seen. [18] In that day the Lord will take away the glory of their
foot-rings, and their sun-jewels, and their moon-ornaments, [19] The
ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing, [20] The head-bands,
and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the
jewels with secret powers, [21] The rings, and the nose-jewels, [22] The
feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,
[23] The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses,
and the veils. [24] And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell,
and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the
cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the
clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of
the free. [25] Your men will be put to the sword, and your men of war will
come to destruction in the fight. [26] And in the public places of her
towns will be sorrow and weeping; and she will be seated on the earth,
waste and uncovered.
