Dual Panel1The Lord, the LORD of Hosts, is about to strip Jerusalem and Judah of every prop and stay,
2warriors and soldiers, judges, prophets, diviners, and elders,
3captains of companies and men of good standing, counsellors, skilled magicians, and expert enchanters.
4I shall appoint youths to positions of authority, and they will govern as the whim takes them.
5The people will deal oppressively with one another, everyone oppressing his neighbour; the young will be arrogant towards their elders, mere nobodies towards men of rank.
6A man will take hold of his brother in his father's house, saying, “You have a cloak, you shall be our chief; our stricken family shall be in your charge.”
7But the brother will at once reply, “I cannot heal society's wounds when in my house there is neither bread nor cloak. You shall not put me in authority over the people.”
8Jerusalem is brought low, Judah has come to grief, for in word and deed they defied the LORD, in open rebellion against his glory.
9The look on their faces testifies against them; like Sodom they proclaim their sins, parading them openly. Woe betide them! They have earned the disaster that strikes them.
10Happy the righteous! All goes well with them; they enjoy the fruit of their actions.
11Woe betide the wicked! All goes ill with them; they reap the reward they have earned.
12Moneylenders strip my people bare, and usurers lord it over them. My people, those who guide you are leading you astray and putting you on the path to ruin.
13The LORD comes forward to argue his case, standing up to judge his people.
14The LORD opens the indictment against the elders and officers of his people: It is you that have ravaged the vineyard; in your houses are the spoils taken from the poor.
15Is it nothing to you that you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor? This is the word of the LORD of Hosts.
16The LORD said: Because the women of Zion give themselves airs, with heads held haughtily, with wanton glances, as they move with mincing gait and jingling feet,
17the Lord will smite with baldness the women of Zion, the LORD will make bare their foreheads.
18On that day the Lord will take away their finery: anklets, discs, crescents,
19pendants, bracelets, coronets,
20headbands, armlets, necklaces, lockets, charms,
21signet rings, nose-rings,
22fine dresses, mantles, cloaks, flounced skirts,
23scarves of gauze, kerchiefs of linen, turbans, and flowing veils.
24Instead of perfume there will be the stench of decay; there will be a rope instead of a girdle, baldness instead of hair elegantly coiled, a loincloth of sacking instead of a fine robe, the mark of branding instead of beauty.
25Zion, your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.
26Zion's gates will mourn and lament, and, stripped bare, she will sit on the ground.