21 The faithful town—
what an adulteress[a] she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her,
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross to be discarded,
your beer[b] is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.(A)
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.(B)
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.(C)

24 Therefore the Lord God of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get even with my foes;
I will take revenge against my enemies.(D)
25 I will turn my hand against you(E)
and will burn away your dross completely;[c]
I will remove all your impurities.(F)
26 I will restore your judges(G) to what they were at first,
and your advisers to what they were at the start.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,(H)
a Faithful Town.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:21 Or prostitute
  2. 1:22 Or wine
  3. 1:25 Lit dross as with lye

Unfaithful Jerusalem

21 See how Jerusalem, once so faithful,
    has become a prostitute.
Once the home of justice and righteousness,
    she is now filled with murderers.
22 Once like pure silver,
    you have become like worthless slag.
Once so pure,
    you are now like watered-down wine.
23 Your leaders are rebels,
    the companions of thieves.
All of them love bribes
    and demand payoffs,
but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans
    or fight for the rights of widows.

24 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    the Mighty One of Israel, says,
“I will take revenge on my enemies
    and pay back my foes!
25 I will raise my fist against you.
    I will melt you down and skim off your slag.
    I will remove all your impurities.
26 Then I will give you good judges again
    and wise counselors like you used to have.
Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice
    and the Faithful City.”

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