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Your leaders mislead you

Now the Lord God of heavenly forces is removing from Jerusalem and from Judah every form of support:

    all rations of food and water;
    soldier and warrior;
    judge and prophet;
    fortune-teller and elder;
    commander and celebrity;
    counselor, clever craftsman, and cunning charmer.
I will make youths their commanders;
    mischief makers will rule over them.
The people will oppress each other,
    each one against the other, neighbor against neighbor.
    The young will bully the old,
    the rogue, and the respectable.

Someone will seize a family member, saying, “You have clothing! You be our leader!
This mess will be your responsibility!”
Someone else will cry out on that day,
    “I’m no healer!
    I have neither food nor clothing in my house!
    Don’t make me the leader of the people!”

Yes, Jerusalem has stumbled
    and Judah has fallen,
        because the way they talk and act in word and deed insults the Lord,
        defying his brilliant glory.
Their bias in judgment gives them away;
    like Sodom, they display their sins in public.
    Doom to them, for they have done themselves in!
10 Tell the righteous how blessed they are;
    they will eat the fruit of their labors.
11 Doom to the wicked; they are evil.
    What they have done will be done to them.
12 As for my people—oppressors strip them
    and swindlers[a] rule them.
My people—your leaders mislead you and confuse your paths.

13 The Lord arises to accuse;
    he stands to judge the peoples.
14 The Lord will enter into judgment
    with the elders and princes of his people:
You yourselves have devoured the vineyard;
    the goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.
15 How dare you crush my people
    and grind the faces of the poor?
    says the Lord God of heavenly forces.

16 The Lord says:
Because Zion’s daughters applaud themselves,
    walking with their chins in the air,
    flirting with their eyes,
    tiptoeing as they walk, feet jingling—
17     the Lord will shave the heads of Zion’s daughters,
    and will expose their scalps.
18 On that day, the Lord will remove:
    the splendid ankle chains; headbands and moon-shaped pendants;
19     the earrings, bracelets, and veils;
20     the hats, bangles, and sashes;
    the amulets and charms;
21     the signet rings and nose rings;
22     the robes and capes;
    the shawls and handbags;
23     the mirrors and linen garments;
    the turbans and the veils.
24 Instead of perfume there will be a disgusting odor;
    instead of a sash, a rope;
    instead of styled hair, shaved heads;
    instead of expensive clothes, rags as mourning clothes;
    instead of beauty, shame.[b]

25 Your men will fall by the sword,
    your warriors in battle!
26 Her gates will lament and mourn;
    desolate, she will sit on the ground.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 3:12 LXX; MT women
  2. Isaiah 3:24 DSS (1QIsaa); MT lacks shame.

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