Old/New Testament
Judah’s Leaders Judged
3 Note this: The Lord God of Armies
is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
every kind of security:
the entire supply of bread and water,
2 heroes and warriors,(A)
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3 commanders of fifty and dignitaries,
counselors, cunning magicians,[a] and necromancers.[b]
4 “I will make youths their leaders,(B)
and unstable rulers[c] will govern them.”
5 The people will oppress one another,(C)
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the young will act arrogantly toward the old,
and the worthless toward the honorable.
6 A man will even seize his brother
in his father’s house, saying,
“You have a cloak—you be our leader!
This heap of rubble will be under your control.”
7 On that day he will cry out, saying,
“I’m not a healer.
I don’t even have food or clothing in my house.
Don’t make me the leader of the people!”
8 For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they have spoken and acted against the Lord,(D)
defying his glorious presence.(E)
9 The look on their faces testifies against them,
and like Sodom,(F) they flaunt their sin;
they do not conceal it.
Woe to them,
for they have brought disaster on themselves.(G)
10 Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
11 Woe to the wicked—it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.
12 Youths oppress my people,(H)
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths.(I)
13 The Lord rises to argue the case
and stands to judge the people.(J)
14 The Lord brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of his people:(K)
“You have devastated the vineyard.
The plunder from the poor is in your houses.(L)
15 Why do you crush my people
and grind the faces of the poor?”
This is the declaration of the Lord God of Armies.
Jerusalem’s Women Judged
16 The Lord also says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,(M)
walking with heads held high
and seductive eyes,
prancing along,
jingling their ankle bracelets,
17 the Lord will put scabs on the heads
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.
18 On that day(N) the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents,(O) 19 pendants, bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets,(P) 21 signet rings, nose rings,(Q) 22 festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses, 23 garments, linen clothes, turbans, and shawls.
24 Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair,(R) baldness;(S)
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;(T)
instead of beauty, branding.[d]
25 Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
26 Then her gates(U) will lament and mourn;
deserted, she will sit on the ground.(V)
4 On that day seven women
will seize one man,(W) saying,
“We will eat our own bread
and provide our own clothing.
Just let us bear your name.
Take away our disgrace.”(X)
Zion’s Future Glory
2 On that day the Branch[e] of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious,(Y) and the fruit of the land(Z) will be the pride and glory(AA) of Israel’s survivors.(AB) 3 Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem(AC) will be called holy(AD)—all in Jerusalem written in the book of life[f](AE)— 4 when the Lord has washed away the filth(AF) of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodguilt(AG) from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment(AH) and a spirit of burning.(AI) 5 Then the Lord will create(AJ) a cloud of smoke by day(AK) and a glowing flame of fire by night over the entire site of Mount Zion and over its assemblies. For there will be a canopy over all the glory,[g] 6 and there will be a shelter for shade from heat by day and a refuge and shelter from storm and rain.(AL)
Carry One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle(A) spirit,[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.(C) 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(D) 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,(E) he deceives himself. 4 Let each person examine his own work,(F) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share(G) all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit(H) will reap eternal life(I) from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tired(J) of doing good,(K) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work(L) for the good(M) of all, especially for those who belong to the household(N) of faith.(O)
Concluding Exhortation
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh(P) are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised(Q)—but only to avoid being persecuted(R) for the cross(S) of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep(T) the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For[b] both circumcision and uncircumcision(U) mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.(V) 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel(W) of God![c]
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.(X) 18 Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(Y) Amen.
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