God removes the support of Jerusalem and Judah: leaders, soldiers, judges and prophets. Society is thrown into chaos, with children as oppressors. God also rebukes the proud women of Zion and foretells their humiliation.
1 For, behold, the Lord , the LORD of hosts , doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff , the whole stay of bread , and the whole stay of water ,
2 The mighty man , and the man of war , the judge , and the prophet , and the prudent , and the ancient ,
3 The captain of fifty , and the honourable man , and the counsellor , and the cunning artificer , and the eloquent orator .
4 And I will give children to be their princes , and babes shall rule over them.
5 And the people shall be oppressed , every one by another , and every one by his neighbour : the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient , and the base against the honourable .
6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father , saying, Thou hast clothing , be thou our ruler , and let this ruin be under thy hand :
7 In that day shall he swear , saying , I will not be an healer ; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing : make me not a ruler of the people .
8 For Jerusalem is ruined , and Judah is fallen : because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD , to provoke the eyes of his glory .
9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them ; and they declare their sin as Sodom , they hide it not. Woe unto their soul ! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
10 Say ye to the righteous , that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings .
11 Woe unto the wicked ! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 As for my people , children are their oppressors , and women rule over them. O my people , they which lead thee cause thee to err , and destroy the way of thy paths .
13 The LORD standeth up to plead , and standeth to judge the people .
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people , and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard ; the spoil of the poor is in your houses .
15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces , and grind the faces of the poor ? saith the Lord GOD of hosts .
16 Moreover the LORD saith , Because the daughters of Zion are haughty , and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes , walking and mincing as they go , and making a tinkling with their feet :
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion , and the LORD will discover their secret parts .
18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls , and their round tires like the moon ,
19 The chains , and the bracelets , and the mufflers ,
20 The bonnets , and the ornaments of the legs , and the headbands , and the tablets , and the earrings ,
21 The rings , and nose jewels ,
22 The changeable suits of apparel , and the mantles , and the wimples , and the crisping pins ,
23 The glasses , and the fine linen , and the hoods , and the vails .
24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink ; and instead of a girdle a rent ; and instead of well set hair baldness ; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth ; and burning instead of beauty .
25 Thy men shall fall by the sword , and thy mighty in the war .
26 And her gates shall lament and mourn ; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground .