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 who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical 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 heeded no voice, She accepted no instruction. 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 wolves at evening; They leave nothing for the 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 reckless, treacherous men; 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 is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. 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 corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, With no one passing by; Their cities are laid waste, Without a man, without an 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, ‘Surely you will revere Me, Accept instruction.’ So her dwelling will not be cut off According to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.

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,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.

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 peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to 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 Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.

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 will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst Your proud, exulting ones, And you will never again be haughty On My holy mountain. A Remnant of Israel

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

“But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge 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 will do no wrong And tell no lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will feed and lie down With no one to make them tremble.”

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

Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult 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 His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no 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 will be said to Jerusalem: “ Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.

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 your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

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

“I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts— They came from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them.

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, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame And gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In all the earth.

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, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says the Lord.