1 F or, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

See, the Lord, the Lord God of All, is going to take away from Jerusalem and Judah all they have to keep themselves alive and safe, all the bread and all the water.

2 T he mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

He will take away the strong man, the man of war, the man who judges, the man who tells what will happen in the future, the man who uses secret ways, and the leader.

3 T he captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

He will take away the captain of fifty, the man of honor, the wise man, the able workman, and the one who uses secret powers.

4 A nd I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

I will make boys their rulers. Foolish children will rule over them.

5 A nd the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

The people will make it hard for each other. Each one will hurt the other, and each one will be hurt by his neighbor. The younger will show anger toward the older. And the man who is not respected will show anger toward the man of honor.

6 W hen a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

A man will take hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying, “You have a coat. You will be our ruler. This destroyed city will be under your rule.”

7 I n that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

In that day he will call out, “I can not be of help to you. For in my house there is no bread or coat. You should not choose me to be ruler of the people.”

8 F or Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

For Jerusalem has no strength, and Judah has fallen, because their speaking and their actions are against the Lord. They have turned against His shining-greatness.

9 T he shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

The look on their faces speaks against them. They show their sin like Sodom. They do not even hide it. It is bad for them! For they have brought trouble upon themselves.

10 S ay ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Tell those who are right and good that it will go well for them. For they will enjoy the fruit of what they do.

11 W oe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

It will be bad for the sinful man! It will not go well for him, for what he has done will be done to him.

12 A s for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

O My people! Children make it hard for them. And women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you in the wrong way. You do not know which path to take. The Lord Will Judge His People

13 T he Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

The Lord is ready to say what He thinks and stands to judge the people.

14 T he Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

The Lord judges the leaders and rulers of His people: “It is you who have destroyed the grape-field. What had belonged to the poor is in your houses.

15 W hat mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.

What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the faces of the poor?” says the Lord God of All. Women of Jerusalem Will Suffer

16 M oreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

The Lord said, “The daughters of Zion are proud. They walk with heads held high and a wrong desire in their eyes. They walk with short steps, making noise with the chains on their ankles.

17 T herefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

So the Lord will make sores come upon the heads of the daughters of Zion, and take the hair from their head.

18 I n that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their ankle chains, headbands, moon-like objects,

19 T he chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

rings worn on their ears and arms, face-coverings,

20 T he bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

head-dresses, leg-chains, wide belts, perfume boxes, objects with secret powers,

21 T he rings, and nose jewels,

finger rings, nose rings,

22 T he changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

bright clothing, coats, money-bags,

23 T he glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

hand mirrors, underclothes, head-coverings, and face-coverings.

24 A nd it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

Instead of sweet perfume there will be a bad smell. Instead of a belt there will be a rope. Instead of well set hair there will be no hair. Instead of fine clothes they will wear cloth made from hair. And there will be burnt marks instead of beauty.

25 T hy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

Your men will fall by the sword. Your strong ones will fall in battle.

26 A nd her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Jerusalem’s gates will be filled with sorrow. She will sit on the ground, laid waste and empty.