The Degenerate City

21 aHow the faithful city has become a 2harlot!

It was full of justice;

Righteousness lodged in it,

But now bmurderers.

22 cYour silver has become dross,

Your wine mixed with water.

23 dYour princes are rebellious,

And ecompanions of thieves;

fEveryone loves bribes,

And follows after rewards.

They gdo not defend the fatherless,

Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord says,

The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,

“Ah, hI will 3rid Myself of My adversaries,

And 4take vengeance on My enemies.

25 I will turn My hand against you,

And ithoroughly 5purge away your dross,

And take away all your alloy.

26 I will restore your judges jas at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning.

Afterward kyou shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice,

And her 6penitents with righteousness.

28 The ldestruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,

And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

29 For 7they shall be ashamed of the 8terebinth trees

Which you have desired;

And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens

Which you have chosen.

30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,

And as a garden that has no water.

31 mThe strong shall be as tinder,

And the work of it as a spark;

Both will burn together,

And no one shall nquench them.