1. Ah! Rebellious and polluted,the tyrannical city!
2. It listens to no voice,accepts no correction;In the Lord it has not trusted,nor drawn near to its God.
3. Its officials within itare roaring lions;Its judges are desert wolvesthat have no bones to gnaw by morning.
4. Its prophets are reckless,treacherous people;Its priests profane what is holy,and do violence to the law.
5. But the Lord in its midst is just,doing no wrong;Morning after morning rendering judgmentunfailingly, at dawn;the wicked, however, know no shame.
6. I have cut down nations,their battlements are laid waste;I have made their streets deserted,with no one passing through;Their cities are devastated,with no one dwelling in them.
7. I said, “Surely now you will fear me,you will accept correction;They cannot fail to seeall I have brought upon them.”Yet the more eagerly they have doneall their corrupt deeds.
8. Therefore, wait for me—oracle of the Lord—until the day when I arise as accuser;For it is my decision to gather nations,to assemble kingdoms,In order to pour out upon them my wrath,all my blazing anger;For in the fire of my passionall the earth will be consumed.
9. For then I will make purethe speech of the peoples,That they all may call upon the name of the Lord,to serve him with one accord;
10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopiaand as far as the recesses of the North,they shall bring me offerings.
11. On that dayYou will not be ashamedof all your deeds,when you rebelled against me;For then I will remove from your midstthe proud braggarts,And you shall no longer exalt yourselfon my holy mountain.
12. But I will leave as a remnant in your midsta people humble and lowly,Who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord—
13. the remnant of Israel.They shall do no wrongand speak no lies;Nor shall there be found in their mouthsa deceitful tongue;They shall pasture and lie downwith none to disturb them.
14. Shout for joy, daughter Zion!sing joyfully, Israel!Be glad and exult with all your heart,daughter Jerusalem!
15. The Lord has removed the judgment against you,he has turned away your enemies;The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst,you have no further misfortune to fear.
16. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:Do not fear, Zion,do not be discouraged!
17. The Lord, your God, is in your midst,a mighty savior,Who will rejoice over you with gladness,and renew you in his love,Who will sing joyfully because of you,
18. as on festival days.I will remove disaster from among you,so that no one may recount your disgrace.
19. At that time I will dealwith all who oppress you;I will save the lame,and assemble the outcasts;I will give them praise and renownin every land where they were shamed.
20. At that time I will bring you home,and at that time I will gather you;For I will give you renown and praise,among all the peoples of the earth,When I bring about your restorationbefore your very eyes, says the Lord.