1For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts,

is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah

stay and staff,

the whole stay of bread,

and the whole stay of water;

2the mighty man and the soldier,

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner and the elder,

3the captain of fifty

and the man of rank,

the counsellor and the skilful magician

and the expert in charms.

4And I will make boys their princes,

and babes shall rule over them.

5And the people will oppress one another,

every man his fellow

and every man his neighbour;

the youth will be insolent to the elder,

and the base fellow to the honourable.

6When a man takes hold of his brother

in the house of his father, saying:

“You have a mantle;

you shall be our leader,

and this heap of ruins

shall be under your rule”;

7in that day he will speak out, saying:

“I will not be a healer;

in my house there is neither bread nor mantle;

you shall not make me

leader of the people.”

8For Jerusalem has stumbled,

and Judah has fallen;

because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD,

defying his glorious presence.

9Their partiality witnesses against them;

they proclaim their sin like Sodom,

they do not hide it.

Woe to them!

For they have brought evil upon themselves.

10Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them,

for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

11Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,

for what his hands have done shall be done to him.

12My people — children are their oppressors,

and women rule over them.

O my people, your leaders mislead you,

and confuse the course of your paths.

13The LORD has taken his place to contend,

he stands to judge his people.3.13 Gk Syr: Heb judge peoples

14The LORD enters into judgment

with the elders and princes of his people:

“It is you who have devoured the vineyard,

the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15What do you mean by crushing my people,

by grinding the face of the poor?”

says the Lord GOD of hosts.

The daughters of Zion

16The LORD said:

Because the daughters of Zion are haughty

and walk with outstretched necks,

glancing wantonly with their eyes,

mincing along as they go,

tinkling with their feet;

17the Lord will smite with a scab

the heads of the daughters of Zion,

and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

18In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; 19the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; 20the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; 21the signet rings and nose rings; 22the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; 23the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.

24Instead of perfume there will be rottenness;

and instead of a girdle, a rope;

and instead of well-set hair, baldness;

and instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;

instead of beauty, shame.3.24 One ancient Ms: Heb lacks shame

25Your men shall fall by the sword

and your mighty men in battle.

26And her gates shall lament and mourn;

ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.