21 The faithful town—

what an adulteressA she has become!

She was once full of justice.

Righteousness once dwelt in her,

but now, murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross to be discarded,

your beerB is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,

friends of thieves.f

They all love graft

and chase after bribes.g

They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,

and the widow’s case never comes before them.h

24 Therefore the Lord God of Armies,

the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah, I will get even with my foes;

I will take revenge against my enemies.i

25 I will turn my hand against youj

and will burn away your dross completely;C

I will remove all your impurities.k

26 I will restore your judgesl to what they were at first,

and your advisers to what they were at the start.

Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,m

a Faithful Town.”

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,

those who repent, by righteousness.n

28 At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken,

and those who abandon the Lord will perish.

29 Indeed, theyF will be ashamed of the sacred trees

you desired,o

and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines

you have chosen.p

30 For you will become like an oak

whose leaves are withered,

and like a garden without water.q

31 The strong one will become tinder,

and his work a spark;

both will burn together,r

with no one to extinguish the flames.s