New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
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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Here is what the LORD who rules over all is about to do. The Lord will take away from Jerusalem and Judah supplies and help alike. He will take away all of the supplies of food and water.
2 the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,
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He'll take away heroes and soldiers. He'll take away judges and prophets. He'll take away fortune tellers and elders.
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
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He'll take away captains of companies of 50 men. He'll take away government leaders. He'll take away advisers, skilled workers and those who are clever at doing evil magic.
4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”
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The LORD will make young boys rule over all of them. Mere children will govern 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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People will crush one another. They will fight against each other. They will fight against their neighbors. Young people will attack old people. Ordinary people will attack those who are more important.
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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A man will grab hold of one of his brothers at his father's home. He will say, "You have a coat. So you be our leader. Take charge of all of these broken-down buildings!"
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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But at that time the brother will cry out, "I can't help you. I don't have any food or clothing in my house. Don't make me the leader of these people."
8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.
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Jerusalem is about to fall. And so is Judah. They say and do things against the Lord. They dare to disobey him to his very face.
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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The look on their faces is a witness against them. They show off their sin, just as the people of Sodom did. They don't even try to hide it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought trouble on themselves.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
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Tell those who do what is right that things will go well with them. They will enjoy the results of the good things they've done.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
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But how terrible it will be for those who do what is evil! Trouble is about to fall on them. They will be paid back for the evil things they've done.
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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Those who are young crush my people. Women rule over them. My people, your leaders have taken you down the wrong path. They have turned you away from the right path.
13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
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The LORD takes his place in court. He stands up to judge the people.
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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He judges the elders and leaders of his people. He says to them, "My people are like a vineyard. You have destroyed them. The things you have taken from poor people are in your houses.
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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What do you mean by crushing my people? Why are you grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?" announces the Lord. He is the LORD who rules over all.
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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The LORD continues, "The women in Zion are very proud. They walk along with their noses in the air. They tease men with their eyes. They walk with quick, short steps. Little chains jingle on their ankles.
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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So I will put sores on the heads of Zion's women. And I will remove the hair from their heads."
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,
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At that time the Lord will take away the beautiful things they wear. He will take away their decorations, headbands and moon-shaped necklaces.
19 the earrings and bracelets and veils,
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He'll take away their earrings, bracelets and veils.
20 the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms,
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He'll remove their headdresses, ankle chains and belts. He'll take away their perfume bottles and charms.
21 the signet rings and nose rings,
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He'll remove the rings they wear on their fingers and in their noses.
22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses
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He'll take away their fine robes and their capes and coats. He'll take away their purses
23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
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and mirrors. And he'll take away their linen clothes, turbans and shawls.
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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Instead of smelling sweet, the women will smell bad. Instead of wearing belts, they will wear ropes. Instead of having beautiful hair, they won't have any hair at all. Instead of wearing fine clothes, they'll wear black clothes to show how sad they are. Instead of being beautiful, they'll have the brands of slaves on their bodies.
25 Your men will fall by the sword, your warriors in battle.
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Jerusalem, your men will be killed with swords. Your soldiers will die in battle.
26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
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The city of Zion will be very sad. Like a widow, she will lose everything. She will sit on the ground and sob.
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.