¹² Childish leaders oppress my people,
    and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
    they send you down the wrong road.

⁴ I will make boys their leaders,
    and toddlers their rulers.

¹³ Your troops will be as weak
    and helpless as women.
The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy
    and set on fire and burned.

¹⁴ Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord,
    you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.
¹⁵ You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death
    and have made a deal to dodge the grave.^[a]
The coming destruction can never touch us,
    for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

³¹ the prophets give false prophecies,
    and the priests rule with an iron hand.
Worse yet, my people like it that way!
    But what will you do when the end comes?

¹⁵ The leaders of Israel are the head,
    and the lying prophets are the tail.
¹⁶ For the leaders of the people have misled them.
    They have led them down the path of destruction.

²⁴ ‘May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace.’