A Song of Trust in the LORD's Protection

261 In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city.
God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter:
the one which keeps faith. 3 You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace,
because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in Yahweh forever;
for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.

5 For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city.
He lays it low.
He lays it low even to the ground.
He brings it even to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down;
Even the feet of the poor,
and the steps of the needy.” 7 The way of the just is uprightness.
You who are upright make the path of the righteous level. 8 Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul. 9 With my soul have I desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 10 Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see Yahweh’s majesty. 11 Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.

12 Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also worked all our works for us. 13 Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name. 14 The dead shall not live. The deceased shall not rise. Therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land. 16 Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. 17 Like as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs; so we have been before you, Yahweh. 18 We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast forth the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For, behold, Yahweh comes forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.

The LORD's Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

31 For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support,
the whole supply of bread,
and the whole supply of water; 2 the mighty man,
the man of war,
the judge,
the prophet,
the diviner,
the elder, 3 the captain of fifty,
the honorable man,
the counselor,
the skilled craftsman,
and the clever enchanter. 4 I will give boys to be their princes,
and children shall rule over them. 5 The people will be oppressed,
everyone by another,
and everyone by his neighbor.
The child will behave himself proudly against the old man,
and the base against the honorable. 6 Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying,
“You have clothing, you be our ruler,
and let this ruin be under your hand.” 7 In that day he will cry out, saying, I will not be a healer;
for in my house is neither bread nor clothing.
You shall not make me ruler of the people. 8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen;
because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh,
to provoke the eyes of his glory.

9 The look of their faces testify against them.
They parade their sin like Sodom.
They don’t hide it.
Woe to their soul!
For they have brought disaster upon themselves. 10 Tell the righteous “Good!”
For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked!
Disaster is upon them;
for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
My people, those who lead you cause you to err,
and destroy the way of your paths. 13 Yahweh stands up to contend,
and stands to judge the peoples. 14 Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people,
and their leaders:
“It is you who have eaten up the vineyard.
The spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What do you mean that you crush my people,
and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

Judgment on the Daughters of Zion

16 Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes,
walking to trip as they go,
jingling ornaments on their feet; 17 therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion,
and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.” 18 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, 20 the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms, 21 the signet rings, the nose rings, 22 the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses, 23 the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls. 24 It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well set hair, baldness;
instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty. 25 Your men shall fall by the sword,
and your mighty in the war. 26 Her gates shall lament and mourn;
and she shall be desolate and sit on the ground.