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See, the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff: the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
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the mighty man, the warrior, the judge, the prophet, the omen reader, the elder;
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the captain of fifty, the respected citizen, the counselor, the expert craftsman, and the skillful enchanter.
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“I will place mere youths as their leaders, and the young will rule over them.
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The people will be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor; the child will insult the elderly, and the degraded will challenge the honorable.
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A man will even take hold of his brother in his father’s house and say, ‘You have a coat; be our ruler, and let this ruin be in your hands.’
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On that day he will shout and say, ’I will not be a healer; I have no bread or clothing. You will not make me ruler of the people.’”
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For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against Yahweh, defying the eyes of his glory.
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The look on their faces witnesses against them; and they tell of their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have completed a catastrophe for themselves.
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Tell the righteous person that it will be well, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.
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Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him, for the recompense of his hands will be done to him.
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My people-children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who guide you lead you astray and confuse the direction of your path.
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Yahweh stands up for an accusation; he is standing to accuse the people.
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Yahweh will come with judgment against the elders of his people and their leaders: “You have ruined the vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
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Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?” This is the declaration of the Lord, Yahweh of hosts.
A Warning to the Daughters of Zion
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Yahweh says that because the daughters of Zion are proud, walk along with their heads high, and flirt with their eyes, mincing along as they go and making a tinkling with their feet,
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therefore the Lord will form diseased scabs on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and Yahweh will make them bald.
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On that day the Lord will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, head bands, the crescent ornaments,
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the ear pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
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the headscarves, the ankle chains, the sashes, and the perfume boxes, and the lucky charms.
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He will remove the rings and the nose jewels;
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the festive robes, the mantles, the veils, and the handbags;
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the hand mirrors, the fine linen, the head pieces, and the wraps.
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Instead of sweet perfume there will be stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-arranged hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a covering of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
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Your men will fall by the sword, and your strong men will fall in war.
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Jerusalem’s gates will lament and mourn; and she will be alone and sit upon the ground.
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