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.
10
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.
11
In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.
12
I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.