| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Look, the sovereign LORD who commands armies is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah every source of security, including all the food and 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 men and warriors, judges and prophets, omen readers and leaders, | 2the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, |
| 3captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, advisers and those skilled in magical arts, and those who know incantations. | 3the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. |
| 4The LORD says, "I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them. | 4"I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them." |
| 5The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected. | 5People will oppress each other-- man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored. |
| 6Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father's house and say, 'You own a coat--you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.' | 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!" |
| 7At that time the brother will shout, 'I am no doctor, I have no food or coat in my house; don't make me a leader 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." |
| 8Jerusalem certainly stumbles, Judah falls, for their words and their actions offend the LORD; they rebel against his royal authority. | 8Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. |
| 9The look on their faces testifies to their guilt; like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin. Too bad for them! For they bring disaster on 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. |
| 10Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done. | 10Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. |
| 11Too bad for the wicked sinners! For they will get exactly what they deserve. | 11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. |
| 12Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people's leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions. | 12Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. |
| 13The LORD takes his position to judge; he stands up to pass sentence on his people. | 13The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. |
| 14The LORD comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says, "It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor. | 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. |
| 15Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?" The sovereign LORD who commands armies has spoken. | 15What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. |
| 16The LORD says, "The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads high and flirt with their eyes. They skip along and the jewelry on their ankles jingles. | 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. |
| 17So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion's women with skin diseases, the LORD will make the front of their heads bald." | 17Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald." |
| 18At that time the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, | 18In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, |
| 19earrings, bracelets, veils, | 19the earrings and bracelets and veils, |
| 20headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets, | 20the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, |
| 21rings, nose rings, | 21the signet rings and nose rings, |
| 22festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses, | 22the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses |
| 23garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns. | 23and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. |
| 24A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, a rope will replace a belt, baldness will replace braided locks of hair, a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe, and a prisoner's brand will replace 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. |
| 25Your men will fall by the sword, your strong men will die in battle. | 25Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. |
| 26Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground. | 26The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. |
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