Downfall of Jerusalem and Judah
3 For behold! The Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,
takes from Jerusalem and from Judah
supply and support,
every supply of bread
and every supply of water,
2 mighty man and man of war,
judge, and prophet,
fortune-teller and elder,
3 captain of 50 and man of rank,
counselor, crafty magician and cunning charmer.
4 I will set children as their rulers.
Capricious ones will govern them.
5 The people will oppress one another—
each one by his fellow,
each one by his neighbor.
The child will be insolent to the aged,
and dishonarable to the honorable.
6 When a man takes hold of his brother
in the house of his father, saying:
“You have a cloak, you be our ruler!
This ruin is under your charge.”
7 In that day he will protest, saying:
“I’m no healer!
In my house is no bread or cloak.
Don’t make me a ruler of people!”
8 For Jerusalem has stumbled,
and Judah is fallen.
For their tongue and their actions
are against Adonai,
defying the eyes of His glory.
9 The expression of their faces
bears witness against them.
They display their sin like Sodom—
they do not hide it.
Oy, their souls!
For they brought evil on themselves.
The Judge Arises
10 Say to the righteous, he will be well,
eating the fruit of their deeds.
11 Oy, the wicked! It will be bad for him,
for the dealing of his hands will be done to him.
12 My people! Children are their oppressors
and women rule over them.
My people! Your guides mislead you
and destroy the way of your paths.
13 Adonai arises to contend a case,
and stands to judge the people.
14 Adonai will enter into judgment
with the elders of His people and with the princes:
“You have devoured the vineyard.
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people
and grinding the face of the poor?”
says Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot.
16 Moreover Adonai says:
“Since the Daughters of Zion are proud,
and walk with outstretched necks and seductive eyes,
walking and mincing as they go,
making a jingling with their feet,
17 therefore Adonai will smite with a scab the forehead of the Daughters of Zion.
Adonai will expose their secret parts.
18 In that day Adonai will strip the finery of anklets, headbands, crescents, 19 pendants and bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, armlets, sashes, perfume vials, amulets, 21 rings and nose-jewels, 22 festal robes, capes, cloaks, purses, 23 lace scarves, fine linen, turbans and veils.
24 Now it will come to pass:
Instead of sweet spices there will be rottenness;
instead of a sash, rags;
instead of curled hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men will fall by the sword,
and your warriors in battle.
26 Her gates will lament and mourn.
Desolate, she will sit on the ground.