1. See now, the Lord, the Lord of Armies,is going to take from Jerusalem and Judahevery kind of supportand their entire supply of food and water.
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.Children will govern them.”
5. People will oppress each other,and everyone will oppress his neighbor.The young will make fun of the old,and common people will make fun of their superiors.
6. A person will grab one of his relativesfrom his father’s family and say,“You have a coat.You’ll be our leader.This pile of ruins will be under your control.”
7. When that day comes the relative will cry out,“I’m not a doctor!I don’t have any food or a coat in my home.Don’t make me a leader of our family.”
8. Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen,because what they say and what they do is against the Lord.They are defiant in his honored presence.
9. The look on their faces will be held against them.They boast about their sins,which are like ⌊those of the people of⌋ Sodom.They don’t even bother to hide them.How horrible it will be for these people,because 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 will be done to them.