The Wickedness of Jerusalem
1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,
To the oppressing city!
2 She has not obeyedHisvoice,
She has not received correction;
She has not trusted in theLord,
She has not drawn near to her God.
3 Her princes in her midstareroaring lions;
# Her judgesareevening wolves
That leave not a bone till morning.
4 Herprophets are insolent, treacherous people;
Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,
# They have doneviolence to the law.
5 TheLordisrighteous in her midst,
He will do no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He never fails,
# Butthe unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations,
Their fortresses are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
With none passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
Thereisno one, no inhabitant.
7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me,
You will receive instruction’—
So that her dwelling would not be cut off,
Despiteeverything for which I punished her.
# But they rose early andcorrupted all their deeds.
A Faithful Remnant
8 “Thereforewait for Me,” says theLord,
“Until the day I rise up for plunder;
# My determinationistogather the nations
To My assembly of kingdoms,
To pour on them My indignation,
All My fierce anger;
# All the earthshall be devoured
With the fire of My jealousy.
9 “For then I will restore to the peoplesa pure language,
That they all may call on the name of theLord,
To serve Him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers,
The daughter of My dispersed ones,
Shall bring My offering.
11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds
In which you transgress against Me;
For then I will take away from your midst
# Those whorejoice in your pride,
And you shall no longer be haughty
In My holy mountain.
12 I will leave in your midst
# A meek and humble people,
And they shall trust in the name of theLord.
13 The remnant of Israelshall do no unrighteousness
# And speak no lies,
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
# Forthey shall feedtheirflocks and lie down,
And no one shall makethemafraid.”
Joy in God’s Faithfulness
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with allyourheart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 TheLordhas taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
# The King of Israel, theLord,isin your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.
16 In that dayit shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
# Zion,let not your hands be weak.
17 TheLordyour Godin your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
# He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quietyouwith His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
18 “I will gather those whosorrow over the appointed assembly,
Who are among you,
Towhomits reproachisa burden.
19 Behold, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you;
# I will save thelame,
And gather those who were driven out;
I will appoint them for praise and fame
In every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that timeI will bring you back,
Even at the time I gather you;
For I will give you fame and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I return your captives before your eyes,”
Says theLord.