1Look, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah the support and the staff: the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water,
2the strong man, and the soldier, the judge, and the prophet, and the wise man, and the elder,
3the captain of fifty, and the man of honour, and the counsellor, and the skilled craftsman, and the fine speaker.
4"And I will make children their princes, and babies shall rule over them."
5The people shall be crushed, each one by another, and each one by his neighbour. The child shall act proudly against the elder, and the lowly against the honoured.
6A man shall take hold of his brother from his father's house and say, "You have clothing; you be our ruler, and let these ruins be under your hand."
7In that day he shall swear and say, "I will not be a healer; for in my house there is neither bread nor clothing. Do not make me a ruler of the people."
8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah has fallen, because their tongue and their deeds are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9The look on their faces speaks against them. They tell out their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul, for they have rewarded evil to themselves.
10Say to the righteous that it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for what his hands have done shall be given back to him.
12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, those who lead you make you go astray, and they ruin the way of your paths.
13The LORD stands up to plead his case; he stands to judge the people.
14The LORD will come to judgment with the elders of his people and with their princes: "For you have eaten up the vineyard; what you took from the poor is in your houses."
15"What do you mean by beating my people to pieces, and grinding the faces of the poor?" says the Lord GOD of hosts.
16The LORD also says, "Because the daughters of Zion are proud, and walk with their necks stretched out and with flirting eyes, walking and taking little steps as they go, and making their feet jingle,"
17"therefore the Lord will strike with sores the top of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover their secret parts."
18In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of the jingling ornaments on their feet, and their hair nets, and their crescent ornaments,
19the chains, and the bracelets, and the face coverings,
20the headdresses, and the ornaments for the legs, and the headbands, and the perfume boxes, and the earrings,
21the rings, and the nose jewels,
22the changes of fine clothing, and the cloaks, and the shawls, and the purses,
23the mirrors, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils.
24And instead of a sweet smell there shall be a stink; and instead of a belt, a tearing; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a wrapping of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
25Your men shall fall by the sword, and your strong men in the war.
26And her gates shall grieve and mourn; and she, left empty, shall sit on the ground.