1 F or, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;

See, the Lord, the Lord God of All, is going to take away from Jerusalem and Judah all they have to keep themselves alive and safe, all the bread and all the water.

2 t he mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,

He will take away the strong man, the man of war, the man who judges, the man who tells what will happen in the future, the man who uses secret ways, and the leader.

3 t he captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.

He will take away the captain of fifty, the man of honor, the wise man, the able workman, and the one who uses secret powers.

4 I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.

I will make boys their rulers. Foolish children will rule over them.

5 T he people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.

The people will make it hard for each other. Each one will hurt the other, and each one will be hurt by his neighbor. The younger will show anger toward the older. And the man who is not respected will show anger toward the man of honor.

6 I ndeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.”

A man will take hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying, “You have a coat. You will be our ruler. This destroyed city will be under your rule.”

7 I n that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.”

In that day he will call out, “I can not be of help to you. For in my house there is no bread or coat. You should not choose me to be ruler of the people.”

8 F or Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

For Jerusalem has no strength, and Judah has fallen, because their speaking and their actions are against the Lord. They have turned against His shining-greatness.

9 T he look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.

The look on their faces speaks against them. They show their sin like Sodom. They do not even hide it. It is bad for them! For they have brought trouble upon themselves.

10 T ell the righteous “Good!” For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

Tell those who are right and good that it will go well for them. For they will enjoy the fruit of what they do.

11 W oe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.

It will be bad for the sinful man! It will not go well for him, for what he has done will be done to him.

12 A s for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.

O My people! Children make it hard for them. And women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you in the wrong way. You do not know which path to take. The Lord Will Judge His People

13 Y ahweh stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.

The Lord is ready to say what He thinks and stands to judge the people.

14 Y ahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

The Lord judges the leaders and rulers of His people: “It is you who have destroyed the grape-field. What had belonged to the poor is in your houses.

15 W hat do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the faces of the poor?” says the Lord God of All. Women of Jerusalem Will Suffer

16 M oreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;

The Lord said, “The daughters of Zion are proud. They walk with heads held high and a wrong desire in their eyes. They walk with short steps, making noise with the chains on their ankles.

17 t herefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”

So the Lord will make sores come upon the heads of the daughters of Zion, and take the hair from their head.

18 I n that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,

In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their ankle chains, headbands, moon-like objects,

19 t he earrings, the bracelets, the veils,

rings worn on their ears and arms, face-coverings,

20 t he headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,

head-dresses, leg-chains, wide belts, perfume boxes, objects with secret powers,

21 t he signet rings, the nose rings,

finger rings, nose rings,

22 t he fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,

bright clothing, coats, money-bags,

23 t he hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

hand mirrors, underclothes, head-coverings, and face-coverings.

24 I t shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

Instead of sweet perfume there will be a bad smell. Instead of a belt there will be a rope. Instead of well set hair there will be no hair. Instead of fine clothes they will wear cloth made from hair. And there will be burnt marks instead of beauty.

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

Your men will fall by the sword. Your strong ones will fall in battle.

26 H er gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit on the ground.

Jerusalem’s gates will be filled with sorrow. She will sit on the ground, laid waste and empty.