[1] Woe to her that is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! [2] She
listens to no voice, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the
LORD, she does not draw near to her God. [3] Her officials within her are
roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the
morning. [4] Her prophets are wanton, faithless men; her priests profane
what is sacred, they do violence to the law. [5] The LORD within her is
righteous, he does no wrong; every morning he shows forth his justice, each
dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. [6] "I have cut off
nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so
that none walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a
man, without an inhabitant. [7] I said, `Surely she will fear me, she will
accept correction; she will not lose sight of all that I have enjoined upon
her.' But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt."
[8] "Therefore wait for me," says the LORD, "for the day when I arise as a
witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to
pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the
fire of my jealous wrath all the earth shall be consumed. [9] "Yea, at that
time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of
them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord. [10]
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, the daughter of my
dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. [11] "On that day you shall not be
put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;
for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you
shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. [12] For I will leave in
the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the
name of the LORD, [13] those who are left in Israel; they shall do no wrong
and utter no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful
tongue. For they shall pasture and lie down, and none shall make them
afraid." [14] Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and
exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! [15] The LORD has taken
away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of
Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. [16] On
that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your
hands grow weak. [17] The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who
gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in
his love; he will exult over you with loud singing [18] as on a day of
festival. "I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear
reproach for it. [19] Behold, at that time I will deal with all your
oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will
change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. [20] At that
time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I
will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when
I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD.