3:1 The Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall take away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and prop (all supplies of bread and water):
3:2 Hero and warrior, judge and prophet, fortune-teller and elder,
3:3 The captain of fifty and the nobleman, counselor, skilled magician, and expert charmer.
3:4 I will make striplings their princes; the fickle shall govern them,
3:5 And the people shall oppress one another, yes, every man his neighbor. The child shall be bold toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.
3:6 When a man seizes his brother in his father’s house, saying, "You have clothes! Be our ruler, and take in hand this ruin!" ?
3:7 Then shall he answer in that day: "I will not undertake to cure this, when in my own house there is no bread or clothing! You shall not make me ruler of the people."
3:8 Jerusalem is crumbling, Judah is falling; for their speech and their deeds are before the LORD, a provocation in the sight of his majesty.
3:9 Their very look bears witness against them; their sin like Sodom they vaunt, They hide it not. Woe to them! they deal out evil to themselves.
3:10 Happy the just, for it will be well with them, the fruit of their works they will eat.
3:11 Woe to the wicked man! All goes ill, with the work of his hands he will be repaid.
3:12 My people ?a babe in arms will be their tyrant, and women will rule them! O my people, your leaders mislead, they destroy the paths you should follow.
3:13 The LORD rises to accuse, standing to try his people.
3:14 The Lord enters into judgment with his people’s elders and princes: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the loot wrested from the poor is in your houses.
3:15 What do you mean by crushing my people, and grinding down the poor when they look to you? says the Lord, the GOD of hosts.
3:16 The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with necks outstretched Ogling and mincing as they go, their anklets tinkling with every step,
3:17 The Lord shall cover the scalps of Zion’s daughters with scabs, and the LORD shall bare their heads.
3:18 On that day the LORD will do away with the finery of the anklets, sunbursts, and crescents;
3:19 the pendants, bracelets, and veils;
3:20 the headdresses, bangles, cinctures, perfume boxes, and amulets;
3:21 the signet rings, and the nose rings;
3:22 the court dresses, wraps, cloaks, and purses;
3:23 the mirrors, linen tunics, turbans, and shawls.
3:24 Instead of perfume there will be stench, instead of the girdle, a rope, And for the coiffure, baldness; for the rich gown, a sackcloth skirt. Then, instead of beauty:
3:25 Your men will fall by the sword, and your champions, in war;
3:26 Her gates will lament and mourn, as the city sits desolate on the ground.