A City Brought to Her Knees by Her Sorrows

13-15 God enters the courtroom.
    He takes his place at the bench to judge his people.
God calls for order in the court,
    hauls the leaders of his people into the dock:
“You’ve played havoc with this country.
    Your houses are stuffed with what you’ve stolen from the poor.
What is this anyway? Stomping on my people,
    grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?”
That’s what the Master,
    God-of-the-Angel-Armies, says.

16-17 God says, “Zion women are stuck-up,
    prancing around in their high heels,
Making eyes at all the men in the street,
    swinging their hips,
Tossing their hair,
    gaudy and garish in cheap jewelry.”
The Master will fix it so those Zion women
    will all turn bald—
Scabby, bald-headed women.
    The Master will do it.

18-23 The time is coming when the Master will strip them of their fancy baubles—the dangling earrings, anklets and bracelets, combs and mirrors and silk scarves, diamond brooches and pearl necklaces, the rings on their fingers and the rings on their toes, the latest fashions in hats, exotic perfumes and aphrodisiacs, gowns and capes, all the world’s finest in fabrics and design.

24 Instead of wearing seductive scents,
    these women are going to smell like rotting cabbages;
Instead of modeling flowing gowns,
    they’ll be sporting rags;
Instead of their stylish hairdos,
    scruffy heads;
Instead of beauty marks,
    scabs and scars.

25-26 Your finest fighting men will be killed,
    your soldiers left dead on the battlefield.
The entrance gate to Zion will be clotted
    with people mourning their dead—
A city stooped under the weight of her loss,
    brought to her knees by her sorrows.

* * *

Read full chapter

13 The Lord takes his place in court;(A)
    he rises to judge(B) the people.
14 The Lord enters into judgment(C)
    against the elders and leaders of his people:
“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
    the plunder(D) from the poor(E) is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people(F)
    and grinding(G) the faces of the poor?”(H)
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.(I)

16 The Lord says,
    “The women of Zion(J) are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,(K)
    flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
    with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
    the Lord will make their scalps bald.(L)

18 In that day(M) the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,(N) 19 the earrings and bracelets(O) and veils,(P) 20 the headdresses(Q) and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings,(R) 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks,(S) the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments(T) and tiaras(U) and shawls.

24 Instead of fragrance(V) there will be a stench;(W)
    instead of a sash,(X) a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;(Y)
    instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;(Z)
    instead of beauty,(AA) branding.(AB)
25 Your men will fall by the sword,(AC)
    your warriors in battle.(AD)
26 The gates(AE) of Zion will lament and mourn;(AF)
    destitute,(AG) she will sit on the ground.(AH)

Read full chapter