The Preacher's Bible

For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;

²the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,

³the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.

⁴I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.

⁵The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honorable.

⁶Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.”

⁷In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.”

⁸For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

⁹The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.

¹⁰Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.

¹¹Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.

¹²As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.

¹³Jehovah stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.

¹⁴Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

¹⁵What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Jehovah of Armies.

¹⁶Moreover Jehovah said, “Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking daintily as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;

¹⁷therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Jehovah will make their scalps bald.” ¹⁸In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, ¹⁹the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, ²⁰the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms, ²¹the signet rings, the nose rings, ²²the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses, ²³the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

²⁴It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

²⁵Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.

²⁶Her gates shall lament and mourn. She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.