1 Jehovah of Hosts, the Almighty RulerSovereign is going to take all support and supply of food and water from Jerusalem and Judah.
2 He will take their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortunetellers and statesmen,
3 military leaders and civilian leaders, counselors, skilled workers, and experts in magic.
4 I will make boys their leaders. Childish tyrants will govern them.
5 People will oppress each other. Everyone will harass his neighbor. The young will tyrannize the old. The common people will taunt their superiors.
6 A person will grab one of his relatives from his father's family and say: »You have a coat. You will be our leader. This pile of ruins will be under your control.«
7 Then the relative will cry out: »I am not a healer! I do not have any food or a coat in my home. Do not make me a leader of the people.«
8 Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because what they say and what they do is against Jehovah! They are defiant in his honored presence.
9 The expression on their faces will be held against them. They boast about their sins! They are like those of the people of Sodom. They do not even bother to hide them. How horrible it will be for these people. They have brought disaster on themselves.
10 Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor.
11 How horrible it will be for the wicked! Disaster will strike them. What they have done to others will be done to them.
12 Children oppress my people! Women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray. They confuse the direction of your paths.
13 Jehovah stands erect to assert his power. He stands to judge the people.
14 Jehovah enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: »It is you who have devoured the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 »What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the face of the poor?« Declares Jehovah of Hosts.
16 Jehovah also said: »Because the daughters of Zion are proud and walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, and go along with mincing steps and tinkle the bangles on their feet,
17 »Jehovah will cause sores to appear on the heads of the women of Zion. Jehovah will make their foreheads bare.«
18 On that day Jehovah will take away their fine things: jingling anklets, headbands, crescent-shaped necklaces,
19 pendants, bracelets, scarves,
20 hats, ankle bracelets, blouses, perfume boxes, charms,
21 signet rings, nose rings,
22 fine robes, coats, shawls, purses,
23 mirrors, underwear, headdresses, and veils.
24 Instead of the smell of perfume, there will be the smell of decay. They will wear ropes instead of belts. They will have baldheads instead of beautiful hair. They will wear sackcloth instead of expensive clothes. Their beauty will be scarred with brand marks.
25 Your men will be killed by the sword, in war.
26 Her Zions gates will lament and mourn and she will sit on the ground deserted.