Youths oppress My people,
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths.

“I will make youths their leaders,
and the unstable will govern them.”

The people will oppress one another,
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the youth will act arrogantly toward the elder,
and the worthless toward the honorable.

A man will even seize his brother
in his father’s house, saying:
“You have a cloak—you be our leader!
This heap of rubble will be under your control.”

The look on their faces testifies against them,
and like Sodom, they flaunt their sin.
They do not conceal it.
Woe to them,
for they have brought evil on themselves.

On that day he will cry out, saying:
“I’m not a healer.
I don’t even have food or clothing in my house.
Don’t make me the leader of the people!”

For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they have spoken and acted against the Lord,
defying His glorious presence.

Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.

The Lord also says:

Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
walking with heads held high
and seductive eyes,
going along with prancing steps,
jingling their ankle bracelets,

The Lord brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of His people:
“You have devastated the vineyard.
The plunder from the poor is in your houses.

Woe to the wicked—it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.

Observe this: The Lord God of Hosts
is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
every kind of security:
the entire supply of bread and water,

The Lord rises to argue the case
and stands to judge the people.

the Lord will put scabs on the heads
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.

Why do you crush My people
and grind the faces of the poor?”
This is the declaration
of the Lord God of Hosts.

headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets,

On that day the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents,

pendants, bracelets, veils,

signet rings, nose rings,

Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.

festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses,

the hero and warrior,
the judge and prophet,
the fortune-teller and elder,

garments, linen clothes, turbans, and veils.

the commander of 50 and the dignitary,
the counselor, cunning magician, and necromancer.

Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.

Then her gates will lament and mourn;
deserted, she will sit on the ground.

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