| 1 | See 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, | |
| 2 | the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder, | |
| 3 | the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter. | |
| 4 | I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them. | |
| 5 | People will oppress each other--man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable. | |
| 6 | A man will seize one of his brothers at his father's home, and say, "You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!" | |
| 7 | But 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." | |
| 8 | Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. | |
| 9 | The 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. | |
| 10 | Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. | |
| 11 | Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. | |
| 12 | Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. | |
| 13 | The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. | |
| 14 | The 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. | |
| 15 | What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. | |
| 16 | The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. | |
| 17 | Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald." | |
| 18 | In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, | |
| 19 | the earrings and bracelets and veils, | |
| 20 | the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, | |
| 21 | the signet rings and nose rings, | |
| 22 | the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses | |
| 23 | and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. | |
| 24 | Instead 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. | |
| 25 | Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle. | |
| 26 | The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground. | |