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¹ Too bad for that disgusting,
    corrupt, and lawless city!
² Forever rebellious
    and rejecting correction,
Jerusalem refuses to trust
    or obey the Lord God.
³ Its officials are roaring lions,
    its judges are wolves;
in the evening they attack,
    by morning nothing is left.
⁴ Jerusalem's prophets are proud
    and not to be trusted.
The priests have disgraced
the place of worship
    and abused God's Law.
⁵ All who do evil are shameless,
but the Lord does right
    and is always fair.
With the dawn of each day,
    God brings about justice.

⁶ The Lord wiped out nations
and left fortresses
    crumbling in the dirt.
Their streets and towns
were reduced to ruins
    and emptied of people.
⁷ God felt certain that Jerusalem
would learn to respect
    and obey him.
Then he would hold back
from punishing the city
    and not wipe it out.
But everyone there was eager
    to start sinning again.

⁸ The Lord said:
Just wait for the day
    when I accuse you nations.
I have decided on a day,
    when I will bring together
every nation and kingdom
and punish them all
    in my fiery anger.
I will become furious
    and destroy the earth.

⁹ I will purify each language
and make those languages
    acceptable for praising me.^[a]
Then, with hearts united,
everyone will serve
    only me, the Lord.
¹⁰ From across the rivers
    of Ethiopia,^[b]
my scattered people,
my true worshipers,
    will bring offerings to me.

¹¹ When that time comes,
you won't rebel against me
    and be put to shame.
I'll do away with those
    who are proud and arrogant.
Never will any of them
strut around
    on my holy mountain.
¹² But I, the Lord, won't destroy
    any of your people
who are truly humble
    and turn to me for safety.
¹³ The people of Israel who survive
will live right
    and refuse to tell lies.
They will eat and rest
    with nothing to fear.

¹⁴ Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah,
celebrate and shout
    with all your heart!
¹⁵ Zion, your punishment is over.
The Lord has forced your enemies
    to turn and retreat.
Your Lord is King of Israel
    and stands at your side;
you don't have to worry
    about any more troubles.

¹⁶ Jerusalem, the time is coming,
    when it will be said to you:
"Don't be discouraged
    or grow weak from fear!
¹⁷ The Lord your God
wins victory after victory
    and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings
    because of you,
and he will refresh your life
    with his love."^[c]

¹⁸ The Lord has promised:
Your sorrow has ended,
    and you can celebrate.^[d]
19 I will punish those
    who mistreat you.
I will bring together the lame
    and the outcasts,
then they will be praised,
instead of despised,
    in every country on earth.
²⁰ I will lead you home,
    and with your own eyes
you will see me bless you
    with all you once owned.
Then you will be famous
    everywhere on this earth.
I, the Lord, have spoken!