| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime! | 1Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! |
| 2No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the LORD or draw near to its God. | 2She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God. |
| 3Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey. | 3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. |
| 4Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain. Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions. | 4Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law. |
| 5But the LORD is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame. | 5The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame. |
| 6“I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their streets are now deserted; their cities lie in silent ruin. There are no survivors— none at all. | 6“I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant. |
| 7I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings. Then I won’t need to strike again, destroying their homes.’ But no, they get up early to continue their evil deeds. | 7I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds. |
| 8Therefore, be patient,” says the LORD. “Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations. For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy. | 8Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy. |
| 9“Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the LORD together. | 9For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder. |
| 10My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings. | 10From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering. |
| 11On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain. | 11On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain. |
| 12Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD. | 12But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD. |
| 13The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.” | 13The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.” |
| 14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! | 14Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! |
| 15For the LORD will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the LORD himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. | 15The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm. |
| 16On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! | 16On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp. |
| 17For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” | 17The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” |
| 18“I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. | 18“I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. |
| 19And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. | 19Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth. |
| 20On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the LORD, have spoken!” | 20At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captives before your very eyes,” says the LORD. |
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