21 How did the faithful city become a prostitute?

She who was full of justice—

with righteousness embedded in her,

but now ended up as murderers.

22 Your city’s silver has turned into junk metal.

You wine is now mixed with water.

23 Your leaders are rebels and companions of thieves.

Everyone loves bribes and kick-backs.

They don’t defend the fatherless,

and don’t even think about standing up for the widow.

24 Here’s the declaration of the Yisrael’s powerful master, army commander Yahweh:

“Oh well, I’ll get relief from my opponents,

≈ and avenge myself on my enemies;

25 I’ll turn my actions against you,

and refine your junk metal with chemicals

to remove all your impurity.

26 Then I’ll restore your judges like they were before,

and your counsellors like they were at the start.

Afterwards you’ll be a faithful city called ‘The city of integrity’.”

27 Tsiyyon (Zion) will be set free by justice,

and those who repent, set free by doing what is right.

28 But those who rebel or disobey will be shattered,

and those who abandon Yahweh will come to their end,

29 because they’ll be ashamed of the shrines that you liked at the sacred oak trees,

and you’ll all be disgraced by the gardens that you chose to worship idols in.

30 You’ll all be like an oak tree with withered leaves,

≈ and like a garden that has no access to water.

31 The strong man will be like kindling and his work like a spark,

and both of them will burn together in a fire that no one can put out.