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 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 has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the Lord, She has not drawn 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 in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till 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 insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted 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 in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, 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 fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; There is no one, 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, ‘Surely you will fear Me, You will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would not be cut off, Despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds. A Faithful Remnant

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, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; 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 a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.

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, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring 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 shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In 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.

I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust 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 do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid.” Joy in God’s Faithfulness

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! Be glad and rejoice 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 your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see 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 shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.

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 in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice 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 who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, To whom its reproach 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 who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were 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 I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the Lord.