Purifying Judgment

1:21 How tragic that the once-faithful city

has become a prostitute!52

She was once a center of53 justice,

fairness resided in her,

but now only murderers.54

1:22 Your55 silver has become scum,56

your beer is diluted with water.57

1:23 Your officials are rebels,58

they associate with59 thieves.

All of them love bribery,

and look for60 payoffs.61

They do not take up the cause of the orphan,62

or defend the rights of the widow.63

1:24 Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies,64

the powerful ruler of Israel,65 says this:

“Ah, I will seek vengeance66 against my adversaries,

I will take revenge against my enemies.67

1:25 I will attack you;68

I will purify your metal with flux.69

I will remove all your slag.70

1:26 I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,

wise advisers as in earlier days.71

Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,

Faithful Town.’ ”

1:27 72 Zion will be freed by justice,73

and her returnees by righteousness.74

1:28 All rebellious sinners will be shattered,75

those who abandon the Lord will perish.

1:29 Indeed, they76 will be ashamed of the sacred trees

you77 find so desirable;

you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards78

where you choose to worship.

1:30 For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,

like an orchard79 that is unwatered.

1:31 The powerful will be like80 a thread of yarn,

their deeds like a spark;

both will burn together,

and no one will put out the fire.