3 Yes, listen, the master, army commander Yahweh will take supply and support

away from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and from Yehudah (Judah)—

all the supply of bread and of water,

2 the top warriors and regular soldiers,

the judges and prophets,

the diviners and elders,

3 the unit captains and respected officials,

the counsellors and expert craftsman,

and any skillful enchanters.

4 “Then I’ll put young people in place as their leaders,

≈ and children will rule over them.

5 After that, the people will be oppressed—

one person fighting another,

and a man being taken advantage of by his neighbour.

The lad will insult the elderly,

and the dishonourable insult the honourable.

6 Indeed, a man will seize his brother in his own father’s house:

‘You have a coat so be our ruler,

and this ruin will be under your control.’

7 That will cause him to shout out,

‘I have no intention of helping. I don’t even have enough food and clothes for my own household.

and in my house there is no bread and there is no clothing.

Don’t try to make me the ruler of the people.’ ”

8 Yes, Yerushalem has stumbled,

and Yehudah has fallen,

because their words and actions are against Yahweh,

defying his royal authority.

9 You can tell their intentions by the look on their faces,

and they talk about their disobedience like the people in Sodom did.

They don’t try to hide it.

Their lives won’t end well because they’ve brought suffering on themselves.

10 Tell those who do what’s right

that they’ll be rewarded for their good deeds.

11 But the wicked won’t end well.

They’ll be repaid appropriately for their actions.

12 Even children will oppress my people,

≈ and women rule over them.

Those who guide you lead my people astray

≈ and confuse your progress to make you follow the wrong path.