1. Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!
2. She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord;she does not draw near to her God.
3. Her officials within herare roaring lions;her judges are evening wolvesthat leave nothing till the morning.
4. Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy;they do violence to the law.
5. The Lord within her is righteous;he does no injustice;every morning he shows forth his justice;each dawn he does not fail;but the unjust knows no shame.
6. “I have cut off nations;their battlements are in ruins;I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them;their cities have been made desolate,without a man, without an inhabitant.
7. I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction.Then your dwelling would not be cut offaccording to all that I have appointed against you.’But all the more they were eagerto make all their deeds corrupt.
8. “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.For my decision is to gather nations,to assemble kingdoms,to pour out upon them my indignation,all my burning anger;for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
9. “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoplesto a pure speech,that all of them may call upon the name of the Lordand serve him with one accord.