1 F or behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah The stock and the store, The whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water;

2 T he mighty man and the man of war, The judge and the prophet, And the diviner and the elder;

3 T he captain of fifty and the honorable man, The counselor and the skillful artisan, And the expert enchanter.

4 “ I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them.

5 T he people will be oppressed, Every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable.”

6 W hen a man takes hold of his brother In the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing; You be our ruler, And let these ruins be under your power,”

7 I n that day he will protest, saying, “I cannot cure your ills, For in my house is neither food nor clothing; Do not make me a ruler of the people.”

8 F or Jerusalem stumbled, And Judah is fallen, Because their tongue and their doings Are against the Lord, To provoke the eyes of His glory.

9 T he look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.

10 “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11 W oe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.

12 A s for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” Oppression and Luxury Condemned

13 T he Lord stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people.

14 T he Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

15 W hat do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord God of hosts.

16 M oreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, And walk with outstretched necks And wanton eyes, Walking and mincing as they go, Making a jingling with their feet,

17 T herefore the Lord will strike with a scab The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, And the Lord will uncover their secret parts.”

18 I n that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;

19 T he pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;

20 T he headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms,

21 a nd the rings; The nose jewels,

22 t he festal apparel, and the mantles; The outer garments, the purses,

23 a nd the mirrors; The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.

24 A nd so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; Instead of a sash, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

25 Y our men shall fall by the sword, And your mighty in the war.

26 H er gates shall lament and mourn, And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.