King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,
1
Now the Lord, the Almighty Lord, is about to take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything and everyone that the people depend on. He is going to take away their food and their water,
2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
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their heroes and their soldiers, their judges and their prophets, their fortunetellers and their statesmen,
3 The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
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their military and civilian leaders, their politicians and everyone who uses magic to control events.
4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
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The Lord will let the people be governed by immature boys.
5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
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Everyone will take advantage of everyone else. Young people will not respect their elders, and worthless people will not respect their superiors.
6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
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A time will come when the members of a clan will choose one of their number and say to him, "You at least have something to wear, so be our leader in this time of trouble."
7 In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
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But he will answer, "Not me! I can't help you. I don't have any food or clothes either. Don't make me your leader!"
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
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Yes, Jerusalem is doomed! Judah is collapsing! Everything they say and do is against the Lord; they openly insult God himself.
9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
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Their prejudices will be held against them. They sin as openly as the people of Sodom did. They are doomed, and they have brought it on themselves.
10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
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The righteous will be happy, and things will go well for them. They will get to enjoy what they have worked for.
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
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But evil people are doomed; what they have done to others will now be done to them.
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
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Moneylenders oppress my people, and their creditors cheat them. My people, your leaders are misleading you, so that you do not know which way to turn.
13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
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The Lord is ready to state his case; he is ready to judge his people.
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
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The Lord is bringing the elders and leaders of his people to judgment. He makes this accusation: "You have plundered vineyards, and your houses are full of what you have taken from the poor.
15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
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You have no right to crush my people and take advantage of the poor. I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken."
16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
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The Lord said, "Look how proud the women of Jerusalem are! They walk along with their noses in the air. They are always flirting. They take dainty little steps, and the bracelets on their ankles jingle.
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
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But I will punish them - I will shave their heads and leave them bald."
18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
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A day is coming when the Lord will take away from the women of Jerusalem everything they are so proud of - the ornaments they wear on their ankles, on their heads, on their necks,
19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
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and on their wrists. He will take away their veils
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
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and their hats; the magic charms they wear on their arms and at their waists;
21 The rings, and nose jewels,
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the rings they wear on their fingers and in their noses;
22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
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all their fine robes, gowns, cloaks, and purses;
23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
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their revealing garments, their linen handkerchiefs, and the scarves and long veils they wear on their heads.
24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
24
Instead of using perfumes, they will stink; instead of fine belts, they will wear coarse ropes; instead of having beautiful hair, they will be bald; instead of fine clothes, they will be dressed in rags; their beauty will be turned to shame!
25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
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The men of the city, yes, even the strongest men, will be killed in war.
26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.
26
The city gates will mourn and cry, and the city itself will be like a woman sitting on the ground, stripped naked.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.