Judah’s Leaders Judged

1Note this: The Lord God of Armies

is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah

every kind of security:

the entire supply of bread and water,

2heroes and warriors,a

judges and prophets,

fortune-tellers and elders,

3commanders of fifty and dignitaries,

counselors, cunning magicians,A and necromancers.B

4“I will make youths their leaders,a

and unstable rulersA will govern them.”

5The people will oppress one another,a

man against man, neighbor against neighbor;

the young will act arrogantly toward the old,

and the worthless toward the honorable.

6A man will even seize his brother

in his father’s house, saying,

“You have a cloak — you be our leader!

This heap of rubble will be under your control.”

7On that day he will cry out, saying,

“I’m not a healer.

I don’t even have food or clothing in my house.

Don’t make me the leader of the people! ”

8For Jerusalem has stumbled

and Judah has fallen

because they have spoken and acted against the Lord,a

defying his glorious presence.b

9The look on their faces testifies against them,

and like Sodom,a they flaunt their sin;

they do not conceal it.

Woe to them,

for they have brought disaster on themselves.b

10Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,

for they will eat the fruit of their labor.

11Woe to the wicked — it will go badly for them,

for what they have done will be done to them.

12Youths oppress my people,a

and women rule over them.

My people, your leaders mislead you;

they confuse the direction of your paths.b

13The Lord rises to argue the case

and stands to judge the people.a

14The Lord brings this charge

against the elders and leaders of his people:a

“You have devastated the vineyard.

The plunder from the poor is in your houses.b

15Why do you crush my people

and grind the faces of the poor? ”

This is the declaration

of the Lord God of Armies.

Jerusalem’s Women Judged

16The Lord also says:

Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,a

walking with heads held high

and seductive eyes,

prancing along,

jingling their ankle bracelets,

17the Lord will put scabs on the heads

of the daughters of Zion,

and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.

18On that daya the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents,b 19pendants, bracelets, veils, 20headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets,a 21signet rings, nose rings,a 22festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses, 23garments, linen clothes, turbans, and shawls.

24Instead of perfume there will be a stench;

instead of a belt, a rope;

instead of beautifully styled hair,a baldness;b

instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;c

instead of beauty, branding.A

25Your men will fall by the sword,

your warriors in battle.

26Then her gatesa will lament and mourn;

deserted, she will sit on the ground.b