New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
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,
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For the Lord, the Lord of armies, is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah all their support; their store of bread and of water;
2 the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,
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The strong man and the man of war; the judge and the prophet; the man who has knowledge of secret arts, and the man who is wise because of his years;
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
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The captain of fifty, and the man of high position, and the wise guide, and the wonder-worker, and he who makes use of secret powers.
4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”
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And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.
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.
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And the people will be crushed, every one by his neighbour; the young will be full of pride against the old, and those of low position will be lifted up against the noble.
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!”
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When one man puts his hand on another in his father's house, and says, You have clothing, be our ruler and be responsible for us in our sad condition:
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.”
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Then he will say with an oath, I will not be a helper, for in my house there is no bread or clothing: I will not let you make me a ruler of the people.
8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.
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For Jerusalem has become feeble, and destruction has come on Judah, because their words and their acts are against the Lord, moving the eyes of his glory to wrath.
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.
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Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them; and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
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Happy is the upright man! for he will have joy of the fruit of his ways.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
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Unhappy is the sinner! for the reward of his evil doings will come on him.
12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
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As for my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way.
13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
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The Lord is ready to take up his cause against his people, and is about to come forward as their judge.
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.
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The Lord comes to be the judge of their responsible men and of their rulers: it is you who have made waste the vine-garden, and in your houses is the property of the poor which you have taken by force.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
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By what right are you crushing my people, and putting a bitter yoke on the necks of the poor? This is the word of the Lord, the Lord of armies.
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.
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Again, the Lord has said, Because the daughters of Zion are full of pride, and go with outstretched necks and wandering eyes, with their foot-chains sounding when they go:
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.”
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The Lord will send disease on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will let their secret parts be seen.
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,
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In that day the Lord will take away the glory of their foot-rings, and their sun-jewels, and their moon-ornaments,
19 the earrings and bracelets and veils,
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The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing,
20 the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms,
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The head-bands, and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the jewels with secret powers,
21 the signet rings and nose rings,
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The rings, and the nose-jewels,
22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses
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The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,
23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
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The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils.
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.
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And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.
25 Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.
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Your men will be put to the sword, and your men of war will come to destruction in the fight.
26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
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And in the public places of her towns will be sorrow and weeping; and she will be seated on the earth, waste and uncovered.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.