The Wickedness of Jerusalem

3 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,To the oppressing city!² She has not obeyed His voice,She has not received correction;She has not trusted in the Lord,She has not drawn near to her God.

³ Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;Her judges are evening wolvesThat leave not a bone till morning.⁴ Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people;Her priests have polluted the sanctuary,They have done violence to the law.⁵ The Lord is righteous in her midst,He will do no unrighteousness.Every morning He brings His justice to light;He never fails,But the 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;There is no one, no inhabitant.⁷ I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me,You will receive instruction’—So that her dwelling would not be cut off,Despite everything for which I punished her.But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.

A Faithful Remnant

⁸ “Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord,“Until the day I rise up for plunder;^[a]My determination is to gather the nationsTo My assembly of kingdoms,To pour on them My indignation,All My fierce anger;All the earth shall be devouredWith the fire of My jealousy.⁹ “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,That they all may call on the name of the Lord,To serve Him with one accord.¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of EthiopiaMy worshipers,The daughter of My dispersed ones,Shall bring My offering.¹¹ In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deedsIn which you transgress against Me;For then I will take away from your midstThose who rejoice in your pride,And you shall no longer be haughtyIn My holy mountain.¹² I will leave in your midstA meek and humble people,And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.¹³ The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousnessAnd speak no lies,Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,And no one shall make them afraid.”

Joy in God’s Faithfulness

¹⁴ Sing, O daughter of Zion!Shout, O Israel!Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,O daughter of Jerusalem!¹⁵ The Lord has taken away your judgments,He has cast out your enemy.The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;You shall see^[b] disaster no more.

¹⁶ In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:“Do not fear;Zion, let not your hands be weak.¹⁷ The Lord your God in your midst,The Mighty One, will save;He will rejoice over you with gladness,He will quiet you with His love,He will rejoice over you with singing.”

¹⁸ “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,Who are among you,To whom its reproach is a burden.¹⁹ Behold, at that timeI will deal with all who afflict you;I will save the lame,And gather those who were driven out;I will appoint them for praise and fameIn every land where they were put to shame.²⁰ At that time I will bring you back,Even at the time I gather you;For I will give you fame and praiseAmong all the peoples of the earth,When I return your captives before your eyes,”Says the Lord.