Judah’s Leaders Judged
1Note this: The Lord God of Armies
is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
every kind of security:
the entire supply of bread and water,
2heroes and warriors,3:2 2Kg 24:14; Ezk 17:13–14
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3commanders of fifty and dignitaries,
counselors, cunning magicians,3:3 Or skilled craftsmen and necromancers.3:3 Or mediums
and unstable rulers3:4 Or mischief-makers will govern them.”
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the young will act arrogantly toward the old,
and the worthless toward the honorable.
6A man will even seize his brother
in his father’s house, saying,
“You have a cloak — you be our leader!
This heap of rubble will be under your control.”
7On that day he will cry out, saying,
“I’m not a healer.
I don’t even have food or clothing in my house.
Don’t make me the leader of the people!”
8For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they have spoken and acted against the Lord,3:8 Ps 73:9–11
defying his glorious presence.3:8 Nm 14:22–23; Is 43:7; 48:11; 59:19
9The look on their faces testifies against them,
they do not conceal it.
Woe to them,
for they have brought disaster on themselves.3:9 Rm 6:23
10Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
11Woe to the wicked — it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths.3:12 Is 28:14–22
13The Lord rises to argue the case
14The Lord brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of his people:3:14 Mc 3:1–3
“You have devastated the vineyard.
The plunder from the poor is in your houses.3:14 Ezk 18:10–18; 33:15
15Why do you crush my people
and grind the faces of the poor?”
This is the declaration of the Lord God of Armies.
Jerusalem’s Women Judged
16The Lord also says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,3:16 Is 32:9–15; 1Pt 3:3–4
walking with heads held high
and seductive eyes,
prancing along,
jingling their ankle bracelets,
17the Lord will put scabs on the heads
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.
18On that day3:18 Is 27:12 the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents,3:18 Jdg 8:21,26
19pendants, bracelets, veils,
22festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses,
23garments, linen clothes, turbans, and shawls.
24Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair,3:24 1Pt 3:3 baldness;3:24 Is 15:2; 22:12; Ezk 27:31; Am 8:10; Mc 1:16
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;3:24 Gn 37:34; Is 15:3; Jr 48:36–38; Lm 2:10
instead of beauty, branding.3:24 DSS read shame
25Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
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