| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, | 1See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water, |
| 2The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, | 2the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, |
| 3The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counseller, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. | 3the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. |
| 4And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. | 4"I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them." |
| 5And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. | 5People will oppress each other-- man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored. |
| 6When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: | 6A man will seize one of his brothers in his father's house, and say, "You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!" |
| 7In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. | 7But in that day he will cry out, "I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people." |
| 8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. | 8Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. |
| 9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. | 9The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. |
| 10Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. | 10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. |
| 11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. | 11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. |
| 12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. | 12Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. |
| 13The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. | 13The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. |
| 14The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. | 14The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. |
| 15What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. | 15What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. |
| 16Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: | 16The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. |
| 17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. | 17Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald." |
| 18In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, | 18In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, |
| 19The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, | 19the earrings and bracelets and veils, |
| 20The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, | 20the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, |
| 21The rings, and nose jewels, | 21the signet rings and nose rings, |
| 22The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, | 22the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses |
| 23The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. | 23and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. |
| 24And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. | 24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding. |
| 25Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. | 25Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. |
| 26And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. | 26The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. |
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