Judgment on Jerusalem

1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

the oppressing city!

2She has not listened to His voice,

she does not receive discipline;

in YHWH she does not trust;

to her God she does not draw near.

3Her princes in her midst are roaring lions,

her judges are wolves of the evening

leaving nothing for the morning.

4Her prophets are reckless,

men of treacheries;

her priests have profaned the sanctuary;

they do violence to the law.

5YHWH is righteous in her midst;

He will not do injustice;

morning by morning He gives His justice;

at the light He is not lacking;

the unjust one is knowning no shame.

Purification of the Nations

6“I have cut off nations;

their corners are desolate;

I have made desolate their streets

without one passing through;

their cities are destroyed,

without a man, with no one dwelling.

7I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me;

you will receive discipline.’

Then her dwelling would not be cut off,

by all that I have visited upon her.

Nevertheless, they rose early

to corrupt all their deeds.

8Therefore wait for Me,”

a declaration of YHWH,

“Until the day

of My arising to testify.†

For My judgment is to gather the nations,

to assemble unto Me the kingdoms,

to pour out on them My indignation,

all the burning of my nose!

Indeed, with the fire of My jealousy

all the earth will be consumed.

A Faithful Remnant

9For then I will turn over to the peoples

a lip made pure, to call

for all of them on the name of YHWH,

to serve Him with one shoulder.

10From beyond the rivers of Cush,†

My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones,

will bring My offering.

11On that day you will not feel shame

from any of your deeds,

with which you have transgressed against Me;

for then I will turn away from your midst

the jubilant ones of your pride,

and you will continue no longer to be haughty

on the mountain of My holiness.

12And I will leave in your midst a people humble and poor,

and they will trust in the name of YHWH.

13The remnant of Israel will not do injustice,

and they will not speak lies,

and in their mouth will not be found

a tongue of deceit.

For they will feed the flocks and will lie down,

and there will not be one frightening them.”

Israel’s Restoration

14Sing out, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel;

be glad and rejoice with all the heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15YHWH has turned aside your judgments;

He has turned back your enemy;

the King of Israel, YHWH, is in your midst;

you will fear evil no more.

16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear, O Zion,

do not let your hands be slack!

17For YHWH your God is in your midst,

the Mighty One who saves;

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you with His love;†

He will be joyous over you with singing.”

18“Those sorrowing from the appointed assembly I will gather up,

put away from you

they will be—a lifting away, and along with it reproach.

19Behold, I will be dealing with all who afflict you

at that time;

and I will save the lame,

and those driven out I will gather,

and I will set them for praise and for renown

in every land of their shame.

20At that time I will bring you⁺ in,

at the time I gather you⁺.

For I will give to you⁺ renown and praise

among all the peoples of the earth,

in my returning your⁺ captives†

before your⁺ eyes!”

Says YHWH.