1
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 wolves That 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.
8
"Therefore wait for Me," says the Lord, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With 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.