1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!
2She has not listened to any voice; she has not accepted correction. She has not trusted in Yahweh; she has not drawn near to her God.
3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing to gnaw by morning.
4Her prophets are reckless, men of treachery; her priests have profaned what is holy, they have done violence to the law.
5Yahweh is righteous within her; he does no injustice. Morning by morning he brings his justice to light; it does not fail. But the unjust one knows no shame.
6I have cut off nations; their corner-towers are desolate. I have laid waste their streets so that none passes through; their cities are ruined, without a man, with no inhabitant.
7I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction,’ so that her dwelling would not be cut off — all that I appointed against her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.
8“Therefore wait for me,” declares Yahweh, “for the day when I rise up as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
9For then I will change the peoples to a pure lip, so that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, will bring my offering.
11On that day you will not be put to shame because of all your deeds by which you rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you will no longer be haughty on my holy mountain.
12I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly, and they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13The remnant of Israel will do no injustice and speak no lie, and no deceitful tongue will be found in their mouth; for they will graze and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.
14Sing aloud, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!
15Yahweh has removed the judgments against you; he has turned away your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more.
16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands go slack.”
17Yahweh your God is in your midst, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will be quiet in his love; he will exult over you with singing.
18Those grieving over the appointed feast I have gathered — they were from you, a burden of reproach upon her.
19Behold, I am dealing with all your oppressors at that time. I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will make them a praise and a name in every land where they suffered shame.
20At that time I will bring you in, and at the time I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says Yahweh.
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