1. Ah, sullied, polluted, Overbearing city!
2. She has been disobedient, Has learned no lesson; She has not trusted in the LORD, Has not drawn near to her God.
3. The officials within her Are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves of the steppe, They leave no bone until morning.
4. Her prophets are reckless, Faithless fellows; Her priests profane what is holy, They give perverse rulings.
5. But the LORD in her midst is righteous, He does no wrong; He issues judgment every morning, As unfailing as the light. The wrongdoer knows no shame!
6. I wiped out nations: Their corner towers are desolate; I turned their thoroughfares into ruins, With none passing by; Their towns lie waste without people, Without inhabitants.
7. And I thought that she would fear Me, Would learn a lesson, And that the punishment I brought on them Would not be lost on her. Instead, all the more eagerly They have practiced corruption in all their deeds.
8. But wait for Me -- says the LORD -- For the day when I arise as an accuser; When I decide to gather nations, To bring kingdoms together, To pour out My indignation on them, All My blazing anger. Indeed, by the fire of My passion All the earth shall be consumed.
9. For then I will make the peoples pure of speech, So that they all invoke the LORD by name And serve Him with one accord.
10. From beyond the rivers of Cush, My suppliants Shall bring offerings to Me in Fair Puzai.
11. In that day, You will no longer be shamed for all the deeds By which you have defied Me. For then I will remove The proud and exultant within you, And you will be haughty no more On My sacred mount.
12. But I will leave within you A poor, humble folk, And they shall find refuge In the name of the LORD.
13. The remnant of Israel Shall do no wrong And speak no falsehood; A deceitful tongue Shall not be in their mouths. Only such as these shall graze and lie down, With none to trouble them.
14. Shout for joy, Fair Zion, Cry aloud, O Israel! Rejoice and be glad with all your heart, Fair Jerusalem!
15. The LORD has annulled the judgment against you, He has swept away your foes. Israel's Sovereign the LORD is within you; You need fear misfortune no more.
16. In that day, This shall be said to Jerusalem: Have no fear, O Zion; Let not your hands droop!
17. Your God the LORD is in your midst, A warrior who brings triumph. He will rejoice over you and be glad, He will shout over you with jubilation. He will soothe with His love
18. Those long disconsolate. I will take away from you the woe Over which you endured mockery.
19. At that time I will make [an end] Of all who afflicted you. And I will rescue the lame [sheep] And gather the strayed; And I will exchange their disgrace For fame and renown in all the earth.
20. At that time I will gather you, And at [that] time I will bring you [home]; For I will make you renowned and famous Among all the peoples on earth, When I restore your fortunes Before their very eyes -- said the LORD.
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