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is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah
support and supply—
the whole supply of food,
and the whole supply of water;
2 the hero and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
the fortune-teller and the elder;
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank,
the counsellor and the clever magician,
and the expert enchanter.
4 “I will make boys their leaders;
and mere children will rule over them.
5 People will oppress each other,
man against man, and neighbour against neighbour;
the youth will be insolent toward the elder,
and the worthless against the honourable.”
6 A man will seize his brother
in the house of his father, and say,
“You even have a cloak,
you be our leader!
then you will rule
over this heap of ruins.”
7 But in that day he will cry out,
“I have no remedy.
In my house there is no food or clothing;
do not make me the leader of the people!”
8 Jerusalem has stumbled,
and Judah has fallen,
because their words and their deeds are against the Lord,
to defy His glorious presence.
9 The look on their faces bears witness against them;
like Sodom they flaunt their sin;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 “Tell the righteous that it will go well with them,
for they will eat the fruits of their labours.
11 Woe to the wicked, for disaster is upon them!
What their hands have done
will be done against them.
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
O My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the course of your paths.”
13 The Lord rises to argue His case;
He stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord enters into judgment
against the elders and princes of His people:
“You have devoured the 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?”
says the Lord God of Hosts.
16 The Lord says,
“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with seductive eyes,
strutting along with mincing steps,
with ornaments tinkling on their ankle bracelets,
17 therefore the Lord will put sores
on the heads of the daughters of Zion,
and shave their scalps bare.”
18 On that day the Lord will strip away their finery: the ankle bracelets, the headbands, and the crescents; 19 the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; 20 the headdresses, the ankle jewellery, and the sashes; the perfume bottles, and the amulets; 21 the signet rings, and nose rings; 22 the festive robes, and the mantles; the cloaks, and the purses; 23 the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
24 Instead of sweet fragrance, there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-set hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.
25 Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
26 Then her gates will lament and mourn;
ravaged, she will sit on the ground.