1 I t is bad for her who does not obey and is unclean, the city who makes it hard for the people!

Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!

2 S he does not listen to anyone and will not be taught. She did not trust in the Lord. She does not come near to her God.

She did not listen to and heed the voice; she accepted no correction or instruction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.

3 H er leaders are lions that make a loud noise. Her judges are wolves at evening. They leave nothing for the morning.

Her officials in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones on the morrow, for nothing is left by morning.

4 H er men who tell what is going to happen in the future are proud and cannot be trusted. Her religious leaders have made the holy place unclean. They have turned in anger against the Law.

Her prophets are light and men of treachery; her priests have profaned the sanctuary; they have done violence to the law.

5 T he Lord within her is right and good. He will be fair and do nothing wrong. Every morning He brings to light what is fair. Every new day He is faithful. But the one who does wrong knows no shame.

The Lord in the midst of her is righteous; He will not do iniquity. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He fails not, but the unjust knows no shame.

6 “ I have cut off nations. Their towers are destroyed. I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them. Their cities are laid waste, and no one lives in them.

I have cut off nations; their battlements and corner towers are desolate and in ruins. I laid their streets waste so that none passes over them; their cities are destroyed so that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.

7 I said, ‘For sure you will honor Me with fear and receive teaching.’ Then her place would not be destroyed and she would not be punished as I had planned. But they were quick to make all their works sinful.

I said, Only let her fear Me, receive correction and instruction, and dwelling shall not be cut off. However, I have punished her, but all the more they are eager to make all their doings corrupt and infamous.

8 “ So wait for Me,” says the Lord, “for the day when I stand up to speak. I have decided to gather nations together to pour My burning anger upon them. All the earth will be destroyed by the fire of My jealous anger.

Therefore wait for Me, says the Lord, for the day when I rise up to the attack. For My decision and determination and right it is to gather the nations together, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them My indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be consumed with the fire of My zeal and jealousy.

9 T hen I will make the lips of the people pure. And all of them will call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

For then I will give to the people a clear and pure speech from pure lips, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder.

10 T hose who worship Me and have been driven away will bring My gifts in worship from the other side of the rivers of Ethiopia.

From beyond the rivers of Cush or Ethiopia those who pray to Me, the daughter of My dispersed people, will bring and present My offering.

11 O n that day you will not be put to shame because of all the works you have done against Me. For then I will take away all your people who find joy in their pride. And you will never be proud again on My holy mountain.

In that day you shall not be put to shame for all your deeds by which you have rebelled and transgressed against Me, for then I will take away out of your midst those who exult in your majesty and pride; and you shall no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.

12 B ut I will leave among you people who are not proud, and they will be safe in the name of the Lord.

For I will leave in the midst of you a people afflicted and poor, and they shall trust, seek refuge, and be confident in the name of the Lord.

13 T he people of Israel who are left will do no wrong and tell no lies. A lying tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down with no one to make them afraid.” A Song of Joy

What is left of Israel shall not do iniquity or speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid.

14 S ing, O people of Zion! Call out, O Israel! Have joy and be happy with all your heart, O people of Jerusalem!

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem.

15 T he Lord has taken away your punishment. He has taken away those who hate you. The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you. You will not be afraid of trouble any more.

the Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of you; you shall not experience or fear evil any more.

16 O n that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion. Do not let your hands lose their strength.

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, O Zion. Let not your hands sink down or be slow and listless.

17 T he Lord your God is with you, a Powerful One Who wins the battle. He will have much joy over you. With His love He will give you new life. He will have joy over you with loud singing.

The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest and in His love He will be silent and make no mention; He will exult over you with singing.

18 I will gather those who have sorrow for the special days, and take away their shame.

I will gather those belonging to you who yearn and grieve for the solemn assembly, on whom the reproach of it is a burden.

19 A t that time I will punish all those who made it hard for you. I will save those who cannot walk and gather those who have been driven away. And I will turn their shame into praise. They will be known all over the earth.

Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you; I will save the limping and gather the outcasts and will make them a praise and a name in every land of their shame.

20 A t that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together. I will make you known all over the earth, and all the nations will praise you, when I return your riches before your eyes,” says the Lord.

At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the nations of the earth when I reverse your captivity before your eyes, says the Lord.