22. Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water.
23. Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.
24. So now, listen to what the Lord Almighty, Israel's powerful God, is saying: “I will take revenge on you, my enemies, and you will cause me no more trouble.
25. I will take action against you. I will purify you just as metal is refined, and will remove all your impurity.
26. I will give you rulers and advisers like those you had long ago. Then Jerusalem will be called the righteous, faithful city.”
27. Because the Lord is righteous, he will save Jerusalem and everyone there who repents.
28. But he will crush everyone who sins and rebels against him; he will kill everyone who forsakes him.
29. You will be sorry that you ever worshipped trees and planted sacred gardens.
30. You will wither like a dying oak, like a garden that no one waters.
31. Just as straw is set on fire by a spark, so powerful people will be destroyed by their own evil deeds, and no one will be able to stop the destruction.