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 filthy and polluted, to 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 obey the voice; she did not receive correction; she did not trust in the LORD; she did not draw 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 princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they do not leave a bone for tomorrow.

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 treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary; they have falsified 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 just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: each morning he shall bring his judgment to light; he never fails; but the unjust know 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 caused the Gentiles to be cut off: their castles are desolate; I made their streets waste until no one passes by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man left, 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.

Saying, Surely now thou wilt fear me; thou wilt receive chastisement; so thy dwelling shall not be thrown down, all of which I visited upon her; but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

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, said the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my judgment is to gather the Gentiles, that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them my indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my 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 restore to the peoples the pure language that they may all call upon the name of the LORD to serve him with one consent.

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 Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring me an 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 thou shalt not be ashamed for any of thy doings, in which thou hast rebelled against me, for then I will take away out of the midst of thee those that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no longer be haughty because of the mountain of my holiness.

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

I will also leave in the midst of thee a poor and humble people, and they shall wait 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

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall be fed and lie down, and no one 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 with joy O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all thy 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 thy judgments; he has cast out thine enemy; the LORD is king of Israel in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see 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 time it shall be said to Jerusalem, Do not fear; and to Zion, Do not let thine hands be slack.

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 thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.

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

I will gather those that are weary because of the long time, who are thine, unto whom her confusion was 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 undo all that afflict thee; and I will save her that is lame and gather her that was driven out; and I will make them a praise and of good reputation in every land where they have been put to 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 will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you; for I will give you as fame and as praise among all peoples of the earth, when I shall return your captives before your eyes, saith the LORD.