3:1 Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
3:2 She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
3:3 Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
3:4 Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
3:5 The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
3:6 “I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
3:7 Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge* would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon** her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. / *Or her sanctuary / **Or all those I appointed over
3:8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify.* I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them - all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. / *Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew will rise up to plunder
3:9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush* my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. / *That is, the upper Nile region
3:11 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
3:12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord.
3:13 They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
3:14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
3:15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
3:16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
3:18 “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.
3:19 At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
3:20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes* before your very eyes,” says the Lord. / *Or I bring back your captives