God Will Take Away Judah’s Leaders
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will take away from Jerusalem and Judah their food and water. He will take away their strong soldiers, their men of war, their judges, their prophets, their wise men, and their elders. He will take away their army captains, their important men, their advisors, their skilled workers, and their powerful speakers.
I will let children be their leaders. Babies will rule over them. The people will hurt each other. Every person will hurt his neighbor. Children will act proud toward elders. Low people will act proud toward important people.
A man will grab his brother from his father’s house. He will say: “You have clothes. Be our ruler. Don’t let this broken place fall under your care.” On that day he will say: “I won’t be a healer. I don’t have any food or clothes in my house. Don’t make me a ruler of the people.”
Jerusalem Has Fallen Because of Sin
Jerusalem is broken and Judah has fallen. They spoke and acted against the Lord. They made his glory angry. The look on their faces shows their guilt. They show their sin like the people of Sodom did. They can’t hide it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought trouble on themselves.
Tell the good people that things will go well for them. They will enjoy what they have earned. How terrible it will be for the bad people! They will die. What they have done will come back on them.
My people have children as their bosses. Women rule over them. O my people, your leaders make you go the wrong way. They ruin the path you should follow.
The Lord Judges Bad Leaders
The Lord stands up to judge the people. The Lord will judge the elders and leaders of his people. He says: “You have eaten up the vineyard. What you stole from poor people is in your houses. What do you think you’re doing? You beat my people. You crush poor people.” The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies says this.
The Proud Women of Zion
The Lord also says: “The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads held high. They flirt with their eyes. They take tiny steps. They make noise with their feet.” So the Lord will make sores on their heads. The Lord will take away their beauty. On that day the Lord will take away their beautiful jewelry. He will take away their ankle bracelets and their headbands. He will take away their necklaces, bracelets, and veils. He will take away their caps, leg chains, belts, perfume bottles, and earrings. He will take away their rings and nose rings. He will take away their nice dresses, coats, shawls, and purses. He will take away their mirrors, fine clothes, hoods, and veils.
Instead of sweet smell, there will be a bad smell. Instead of a belt, there will be a rope. Instead of nice hair, they will be bald. Instead of fine clothes, they will wear rough cloth. Instead of beauty, there will be scars. Your men will die in battle. Your strong soldiers will die in war. The city gates will cry and be sad. The city will be empty and sit on the ground.