1:21 How tragic that the once-faithful city
has become a prostitute! 1
She was once a center of 2 justice,
fairness resided in her,
but now only murderers. 3
1:22 Your 4 silver has become scum, 5
your beer is diluted with water. 6
1:23 Your officials are rebels, 7
they associate with 8 thieves.
All of them love bribery,
and look for 9 payoffs. 10
They do not take up the cause of the orphan, 11
or defend the rights of the widow. 12
1:24 Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies, 13
the powerful ruler of Israel, 14 says this:
“Ah, I will seek vengeance 15 against my adversaries,
I will take revenge against my enemies. 16
1:25 I will attack you; 17
I will purify your metal with flux. 18
I will remove all your slag. 19
1:26 I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,
wise advisers as in earlier days. 20
Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,
Faithful Town.’”
1:27 21 Zion will be freed by justice, 22
and her returnees by righteousness. 23
1:28 All rebellious sinners will be shattered, 24
those who abandon the Lord will perish.
1:29 Indeed, they 25 will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you 26 find so desirable;
you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards 27
where you choose to worship.
1:30 For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,
like an orchard 28 that is unwatered.
1:31 The powerful will be like 29 a thread of yarn,
their deeds like a spark;
both will burn together,
and no one will put out the fire.