Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1The mighty LORD All-Powerful

is going to take away

from Jerusalem and Judah

everything you need—

your bread and water,

2-3soldiers and heroes,

judges and prophets,

leaders and army officers,

officials and advisers,

fortune-tellers and others

who tell the future.

4He will let children and babies3.4 babies: Or “worthless nobodies”.

become your rulers.

5You will each be cruel

to friends and neighbours.

Young people will insult

their elders;

no one will show respect

to those who deserve it.

6Some of you will grab hold

of a relative and say,

“You still have a coat.

Be our leader and rule

this pile of ruins.”

7But the answer will be,

“I can't do you any good.

Don't make me your leader.

There's no food or clothing

left in my house.”

8Jerusalem and Judah,

you rebelled against

your glorious LORD—

your words and your actions,

made you stumble and fall.

9The look on your faces shows

that you are sinful as Sodom,

and you don't try to hide it.

You are in for trouble,

and you have brought it all

on yourselves.

The wrong kind of leaders

10Tell those who obey God,

“You're very fortunate—

you will be rewarded

for what you have done.”

11Tell those who disobey,

“You're in big trouble—

what you did to others

will come back to you.”

12Though you are God's people,

you are ruled and abused

by women and children.

You are confused by leaders

who guide you

down the wrong path.

13The LORD is ready to accuse

and judge all nations.

14He will even judge

you rulers and leaders

of his own nation.

You destroyed his vineyard3.14 his vineyard: The nation Israel (see 5.1-7).

and filled your houses

by robbing the poor.

15The LORD All-Powerful says,

“You have crushed my people

and rubbed in the dust

the faces of the poor.”

The women of Jerusalem

16The LORD says:

The women of Jerusalem

are proud and strut around,

winking shamelessly.

They wear anklets that jingle

and call attention

to the way they walk.

17But I, the LORD, will cover

their heads with sores,

and I will uncover

their private parts.

18-23When 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.

24In 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.

25The fighting men of Jerusalem

will be killed in battle.

26The city will mourn

and sit in the dust,

emptied of its people.