1. How terrible for the wicked, stubborn city of Jerusalem,which hurts its own people.
2. It obeys no voice;it can’t be taught to do right.It doesn’t trust the Lord;it doesn’t worship its God.
3. Its officers are like roaring lions.Its rulers are like hungry wolves that attack in the evening,and in the morning nothing is left of those they attacked.
4. Its prophets are proud;they are people who cannot be trusted.Its priests don’t respect holy things;they break God’s teachings.
5. But the Lord is good, and he is there in that city.He does no wrong.Every morning he governs the people fairly;every day he can be trusted.But evil people are not ashamed of what they do.
6. “I have destroyed nations;their towers were ruined.I made their streets emptyso no one goes there anymore.Their cities are ruined;no one lives there at all.
7. I said, ‘Surely now Jerusalem will respect meand will accept my teaching.’Then the place where they lived would not be destroyed,and I would not have to punish them.But they were still eagerto do evil in everything they did.
8. Just wait,” says the Lord.“Someday I will stand up as a witness.I have decided that I will gather nationsand assemble kingdoms.I will pour out my anger on them,all my strong anger.My anger will be like firethat will burn up the whole world.
9. “Then I will give the people of all nations pure speechso that all of them will speak the name of the Lordand worship me together.
10. People will come from where the Nile River begins;my scattered people will come with gifts for me.