Woe to Jerusalem and the Nations
1 Woe (judgment is coming) to her who is rebellious and defiled,
The tyrannical city [Jerusalem]!
2 She did not listenandheed the voice [of God];
She accepted no correction.
She did not trust in the Lord[but trusted her own power];
She did not draw near to her God [but to the pagan gods of Baal or Molech].
3 Her officials within her are roaring lions;
Her judges are [as hungry as] the wolves at evening,
They leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless and treacherous men;
Her priests have profaned the sanctuary;
They have done violence to the law [by pretending their word is God’s word].
5 The Lordis righteous within her;
He will do no injustice.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He does not fail.
But the unjust person knows no shame.
6 “I [the Lord] have cut offanddestroyed nations [as a warning to Judah];
Their corner towers (battlements) are in ruins.
I have made their streets desolate
So that no one passes by;
Their cities are destroyed
So that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.
7 “I said, ‘Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me;
Accept correction.’
So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut off
In accordance withall that I have appointed concerning her [punishment],
But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt.
8 “Therefore [you of the godly remnant of Judah, patiently] wait for Me,” declares the Lord,
“[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness [against the nations].
For it is My decisionandMy right to gather the nations,
To assemble kingdoms,
To pour out on them My indignation,
All [the heat of] My burning anger;
For [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed
By the fire of My zeal.
9 “Then I will give to the peoples [clear and pure speech from] purified lips [which reflect their purified hearts],
That all of them may call on the name of the Lord,
To serve Him shoulder to shoulder (united).
10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers, [the descendants of] My dispersed ones,
Will bring My offerings.
11 “On that day you [Israel] will feel no shame
Because of all your acts
By which you have rebelledandsinned against Me;
Then I will remove from among you
Your rejoicing ones who delight in their pride;
And you will never again behave arrogantly
On My holy mountain [Mount Zion].
A Remnant of Israel
12 “But I will leave among you
A humble and lowly people,
And they will take refugeandtrust confidently in the name of the Lord.
13 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong
Nor speak lies,
Nor will a deceitful tongue
Be found in their mouths;
For they will eat and lie down
With no one to make them trembleandfeel afraid.”
14 Shout for joy, O Daughter of Zion!
Shoutin triumph,O Israel!
Rejoice, be in high spiritsandglory with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem [in that day]!
15 The Lordhas taken away the judgments against you;
He has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, even the Lord[Himself], is in your midst;
You will no longer fear disaster.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not be afraid, O Zion;
Do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “The Lordyour God is in your midst,
A Warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with joy;
He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins],
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
18 “I will gather those [Israelites in captivity] who grieve about the appointed feasts–
They came from you, [O Zion];
On whom the reproach [of exile] is a burden.
19 “Behold, at that time I am going to deal
With all your oppressors;
I will save the lame
And gather the scattered,
And I will turn their shame into praise and renown
In every land [where they have suffered].
20 “At that time I will bring you in,
Yes, at the time I gather you together;
For I will make you a name and a praise
Among all the peoples of the earth
When I restore your fortunes [and freedom] before your eyes,”
Says the Lord.