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 the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,
3:3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
3:4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”
3:5 People will oppress each other - man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.
3:6 A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, 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. 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, strutting along with swaying hips, 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 anklets 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.