Chapter 3

Woe to her that is filthy⁶ and polluted,¹² to the oppressing⁶ city!

She obeyed¹ not the voice; she received¹ not correction; she trusted¹ not in the LORD; she drew not near¹ to her God.

Her princes within her [are] roaring⁶ lions; her judges⁶ [are] evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones¹ till the morrow.

Her prophets [are] light⁶ [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted¹⁴ the sanctuary, they have done violence¹ to the law.

The just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do⁴ iniquity: every morning ¹²⁴² doth he bring⁴ his judgment to light, he faileth⁸ not; but the unjust knoweth⁶ no shame.

I have cut off⁵² the nations: their towers are desolate;⁸ I made their streets waste,⁵² that none passeth by:⁶ their cities are destroyed,⁸ so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.⁶

I said,¹ Surely thou wilt fear⁴ me, thou wilt receive⁴ instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off,¹¹ howsoever ³⁶⁰⁵ I punished¹ them: but they rose early,⁵² [and] corrupted⁵² all their doings.

Therefore wait¹⁶ ye upon me, saith⁷ the LORD, until the day that I rise up² to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather² the nations, that I may assemble² the kingdoms, to pour² upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured¹¹ with the fire of my jealousy.

For then will I turn⁴ to the people a pure⁷ language, that they may all call² upon the name of the LORD, to serve² him with one consent.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of my dispersed,⁷ shall bring⁵⁵ mine offering.

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed⁴ for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed¹ against me: for then I will take away⁵⁵ out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more⁵⁵ be haughty² because of my holy mountain.

I will also leave⁵² in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust¹ in the name of the LORD.

The remnant of Israel shall not do⁴ iniquity, nor speak¹⁷ lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found¹¹ in their mouth: for they shall feed⁴ and lie down,¹ and none shall make [them] afraid.⁵⁶

Sing,³ O daughter of Zion; shout,⁵⁴ O Israel; be glad³ and rejoice³ with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

The LORD hath taken away⁵² thy judgments, he hath cast out¹⁴ thine enemy:⁶ the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see⁴ evil any more.

In that day it shall be said¹¹ to Jerusalem, Fear⁴ thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.⁴

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save,⁵⁵ he will rejoice⁴ over thee with joy; he will rest⁵⁵ in his love, he will joy⁴ over thee with singing.

I will gather¹ [them that are] sorrowful¹² for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.

Behold, at that time I will undo⁶ all that afflict¹⁸ thee: and I will save⁵² her that halteth,⁶ and gather¹⁷ her that was driven out;¹² and I will get¹ them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

At that time will I bring⁵⁵ you [again], even in the time that I gather¹⁵ you: for I will make⁴ you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back² your captivity before your eyes, saith¹ the LORD.