1 The Unjust Knows No Shame Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,The oppressive city!
2 She did not listen toanyvoice;She did not receive discipline.She did not trust in Yahweh;She did not draw near to her God.
3 Her princes in her midst are roaring lions;Her judges are wolves at evening;Theyleavenothing to gnaw for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men;Her priests have profaned the sanctuary.They have done violence to the law.
5 Yahweh is righteous in her midst;He will do no injustice.Every morning He brings His justice to light; 3:5Lit It is never missing He does not fail.But the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations;Their corner towers are desolate.I have made their streets a waste,With no one passing by;Their cities are laid waste,Without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me,Receive discipline.’So her abode will not be cut offAccording toall that I have appointed concerning her.But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.Yahweh Will Pour Out His Anger
8 ¶“Therefore wait for Me,” declares Yahweh,“For the day when I rise up as a witness.Indeed, My judgment is to assemble nations,To gather kingdoms,To pour out on them My indignation,All My burning anger;For all the earth will be devouredBy the fire of My zeal.
9 “For then I will changethemto peoples with purified lips,That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh,To serve Him 3:9 Lit with one shoulder shoulder to shoulder.
10 “From beyond the rivers of 3:10Or Cush, cf. Gen 10:6 EthiopiaMy 3:10Or suppliants worshipers, 3:10Lit the daughter of My scattered ones My scattered ones,Will bring My offerings.
11 “In that day you will feel no shameBecause of all your deedsBy which you have transgressed against Me;For then I will remove from your midstYour proud, exulting ones,And you will never again be haughtyOn My holy mountain.
12 “But I will cause to remain in your midstA 3:12Or humble, afflicted lowly and poor people,And they will take refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13 “The remnant of Israel will do no injusticeAnd not speak falsehood,Nor will a deceitful tongueBe found in their mouths;For they will feed and lie downWith no one to make them tremble.”Yahweh’s Joy in Restoring Israel
14 ¶Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion!Make a loud shout, O Israel!Be glad and exult with allyourheart,O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 Yahweh has taken awayHisjudgments against you;He has cleared away your enemies.The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst;You will fear evil no more.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:“Do not fear, O Zion;Do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “Yahweh your God is in your midst,A mighty one who will save.He will be joyful over you with gladness;He will 3:17Some ancient versions renew you in be quiet in His love;He will rejoice over you with joyful singing.
18 “I will assemble those who grieve about the appointed feasts—They were from you,O Zion;Thereproachof exileis a burden on 3:18 Lit her them.
19 “Behold, I am going to deal at that timeWith all those who afflict you,And I will save the lameAnd gather the banished,And I will turn them—in their shame—into praise and a nameIn all the earth.
20 “At that time I will bring you in,Even at the time when I gather you together;Indeed, I will give youto bea name and praiseAmong all the peoples of the earth,When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”Says Yahweh.