1. The mighty Lord All-Powerfulis going to take awayfrom Jerusalem and Judaheverything you need—your bread and water,
2-3. soldiers and heroes,judges and prophets,leaders and army officers,officials and advisers,fortune-tellers and otherswho tell the future.
4. He will let children and babiesbecome your rulers.
5. You will each be cruelto friends and neighbours.Young people will insulttheir elders;no one will show respectto those who deserve it.
6. Some of you will grab holdof a relative and say,“You still have a coat.Be our leader and rulethis pile of ruins.”
7. But the answer will be,“I can't do you any good.Don't make me your leader.There's no food or clothingleft in my house.”
8. Jerusalem and Judah,you rebelled againstyour glorious Lord—your words and your actions,made you stumble and fall.
9. The look on your faces showsthat you are sinful as Sodom,and you don't try to hide it.You are in for trouble,and you have brought it allon yourselves.
10. Tell those who obey God,“You're very fortunate—you will be rewardedfor what you have done.”
11. Tell those who disobey,“You're in big trouble—what you did to otherswill come back to you.”
12. Though you are God's people,you are ruled and abusedby women and children.You are confused by leaderswho guide youdown the wrong path.
13. The Lord is ready to accuseand judge all nations.
14. He will even judgeyou rulers and leadersof his own nation.You destroyed his vineyardand filled your housesby robbing the poor.
15. The Lord All-Powerful says,“You have crushed my peopleand rubbed in the dustthe faces of the poor.”
16. The Lord says:The women of Jerusalemare proud and strut around,winking shamelessly.They wear anklets that jingleand call attentionto the way they walk.
17. But I, the Lord, will covertheir heads with sores,and I will uncovertheir private parts.
18-23. When that day comes, I will take away from those women all the fine jewellery they wear on their ankles, heads, necks, ears, arms, noses, fingers, and on their clothes. I will remove their veils, their belts, their perfume, their magic charms, their royal robes, and all their fine dresses, hats, and purses.
24. In place of perfume,there will be a stink;in place of belts,there will be ropes;in place of fancy hair styles,they will have bald heads.Instead of expensive clothes,they will wear sackcloth;instead of beauty,they will have ugly scars.
25. The fighting men of Jerusalemwill be killed in battle.