1. Now the Lord God of heavenly forces is removing from Jerusalem and from Judah every form of support:all rations of food and water;
2. soldier and warrior;judge and prophet;fortune-teller and elder;
3. commander and celebrity;counselor, clever craftsman, and cunning charmer.
4. I will make youths their commanders;mischief makers will rule over them.
5. The people will oppress each other,each one against the other, neighbor against neighbor.The young will bully the old,the rogue, and the respectable.
6. Someone will seize a family member, saying, "You have clothing! You be our leader!This mess will be your responsibility!"
7. Someone else will cry out on that day,"I’m no healer!I have neither food nor clothing in my house!Don’t make me the leader of the people!"
8. Yes, Jerusalem has stumbledand Judah has fallen,because the way they talk and act in word and deed insults the Lord, defying his brilliant glory.
9. Their bias in judgment gives them away;like Sodom, they display their sins in public.Doom to them, for they have done themselves in!
10. Tell the righteous how blessed they are;they will eat the fruit of their labors.
11. Doom to the wicked; they are evil.What they have done will be done to them.
12. As for my people—oppressors strip themand swindlers rule them.My people—your leaders mislead you and confuse your paths.
13. The Lord arises to accuse;he stands to judge the peoples.
14. The Lord will enter into judgmentwith the elders and princes of his people:You yourselves have devoured the vineyard;the goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.