Chapter 3

3:1Observe this: The Lord God of Hosts
is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
every kind of security:
the entire supply of bread and water,
2the hero and warrior,
the judge and prophet,
the fortune-teller and elder,
3the commander of 50 and the dignitary,
the counselor, cunning magician, and necromancer.
4"I will make youths their leaders,
and the unstable will govern them."
5The people will oppress one another,
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the youth will act arrogantly toward the elder,
and the worthless toward the honorable.
6A man will even seize his brother
in his father's house, saying:
"You have a cloak-you be our leader!
This heap of rubble will be under your control."
7On that day he will cry out, saying:
"I'm not a healer.
I don't even have food or clothing in my house.
Don't make me the leader of the people!"
8For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they have spoken and acted against the Lord,
defying His glorious presence.
9The look on their faces testifies against them,
and like Sodom, they flaunt their sin.
They do not conceal it.
Woe to them,
for they have brought evil on themselves.
10Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
11Woe to the wicked-it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.
12Youths oppress My people,
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths.
13The Lord rises to argue the case
and stands to judge the people.
14The Lord brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of His people:
"You have devastated the vineyard.
The plunder from the poor is in your houses.
15Why do you crush My people
and grind the faces of the poor?"

This is the declaration

of the Lord God of Hosts.
16The Lord also says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
walking with heads held high
and seductive eyes,
going along with prancing steps,
jingling their ankle bracelets,
17the Lord will put scabs on the heads
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.
18On that day the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents, 19pendants, bracelets, veils, 20headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets, 21signet rings, nose rings, 22festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses, 23garments, linen clothes, turbans, and veils.
24Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.
25Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
26Then her gates will lament and mourn;
deserted, she will sit on the ground.

Chapter 4

4:1On that day seven women
will seize one man, saying,
"We will eat our own bread
and provide our own clothing.
Just let us be called by your name.
Take away our disgrace."
2On that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel's survivors. 3Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy-all in Jerusalem who are destined to live- 4when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. 5Then the Lord will create a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night over the entire site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies. For there will be a canopy over all the glory, 6and there will be a booth for shade from heat by day, and a refuge and shelter from storm and rain.