1
Woe to the city of oppressors,
rebellious and defiled!
2
She obeys no one,
she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
3
Her officials within her
are roaring lions;
her rulers are evening wolves,
who leave nothing for the morning.
4
Her prophets are unprincipled;
they are treacherous people.
Her priests profane the sanctuary
and do violence to the law.
5
The Lord within her is righteous;
he does no wrong.
Morning by morning he dispenses his justice,
and every new day he does not fail,
yet the unrighteous know no shame.
6
"I have destroyed nations;
their strongholds are demolished.
I have left their streets deserted,
with no one passing through.
Their cities are laid waste;
they are deserted and empty.
7
Of Jerusalem I thought,
'Surely you will fear me
and accept correction!'
Then her place of refuge 1 would not be destroyed,
nor all my punishments come upon 2 her.
But they were still eager
to act corruptly in all they did.
8
Therefore wait for me,"
declares the Lord,
"for the day I will stand up to testify. 3
I have decided to assemble the nations,
to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them -
all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
by the fire of my jealous anger.