3:1 See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
3:2 the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder,
3:3 the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
3:4 I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them.
3:5 People will oppress each other–man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable.
3:6 A man will seize one of his brothers at his father’s home, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”
3:7 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”
3:8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.
3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
3:11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
3:12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
3:13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
3:14 The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
3:15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
3:16 The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
3:17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.”
3:18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,
3:19 the earrings and bracelets and veils,
3:20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms,
3:21 the signet rings and nose rings,
3:22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses
3:23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
3:24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding.
3:25 Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.
3:26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
3:1 For now the Lord Jehovah of hosts / Is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah / Every kind of support ? / All the support of bread / And all the support of water;
3:2 The mighty man and the man of war, / The judge and the prophet, / And the diviner and the elder;
3:3 The captain of fifty and the highly regarded; / And the counselor, the wise magician, and the knowledgeable enchanter.
3:4 And I will make youths their rulers, / And capriciousness will rule over them.
3:5 And the people will be oppressed, each by the other, / And each by his neighbor. / The youth will be arrogant to the elder, / And the contemned one to the one who is honored.
3:6 When a man takes hold of his brother / In his father’s house and says, / You have clothing, you be our ruler, / And these ruins will be under your hand;
3:7 He will solemnly say, / I will not be the one who binds your wounds, / For in my house there is no food or clothing; / Do not appoint me as ruler of the people.
3:8 For Jerusalem stumbles, / And Judah falls, / Because their speech and their actions are against Jehovah, / To rebel against the eyes of His glory.
3:9 The countenance of their faces witnesses against them, / And they declare their sin like Sodom; / They do not hide it. / Woe to their soul! / For they have brought evil upon themselves.
3:10 Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, / For they will eat the fruit of their actions.
3:11 Woe to the wicked man! It will go badly with him; / For the result of his deeds will be done to him.
3:12 My people ? their oppressors are children, / And women rule over them. / O My people, those who lead you are leading you astray; / And the path for your ways they have hidden.
3:13 Jehovah stands firm to contend, / And He stands to judge the people.
3:14 Jehovah will enter into judgment / With the elders of His people and their rulers. / It is you who have consumed the vineyard; / The spoil of the poor is in your houses.
3:15 What do you mean by crushing My people / And grinding the faces of the poor? / Declares the Lord Jehovah of hosts.
3:16 Moreover Jehovah said, / Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, / And walk around with outstretched necks / And lusting eyes, / And trip along with quick, little steps, / And rattle the anklets on their feet;
3:17 The Lord will strike the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, / And Jehovah will expose their secret parts.
3:18 In that day the Lord will remove the beauty of their anklets, headbands, and crescents;
3:19 The ear pendants, the bracelets, and the costly veils;
3:20 The headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the bottles of aromas, and the amulets;
3:21 The finger rings and the nose rings;
3:22 The formal gowns, the frocks, the wraps, and the purses;
3:23 The mirrors, the fine linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
3:24 And instead of a sweet smell there will be rottenness; / And instead of a belt, an encircling rope; / Instead of well-set hair, baldness; / And instead of fine garments, the girding of oneself with sackcloth; / A brand instead of beauty.
3:25 Your men will fall by the sword, / And your mighty, in battle;
3:26 Then her gates will mourn and lament, / And she, being desolated, will sit on the ground.