1Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! (Jer 6:6)2She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God. (Jer 5:3; Zep 3:12)3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning. (Eze 22:27; Mic 3:9; Hab 1:8)4Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law. (Jer 23:11; Eze 22:26; Ho 9:7)5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. (Jer 12:1; Zep 2:1)6“I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant. (Zep 2:4; Zec 7:14; Zec 9:8)7I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your[1] dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’[2] But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (Jer 36:3; Mic 7:3; Zep 3:2)8“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. (Isa 8:17; Joe 3:2; Hab 2:3; Zep 1:18)
The Conversion of the Nations
9“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord. (Isa 19:18)10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. (Ps 68:31; Isa 11:11; Isa 60:4; Zep 2:12)11“On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. (Isa 2:11; Isa 54:4; Jer 7:4; Mal 4:1; Mt 3:9)12But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, (Isa 14:32; Zep 3:2; Mt 5:3)13those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Isa 60:21; Mic 5:4; Zep 2:7; Re 14:5)
Israel’s Joy and Restoration
14Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! (Isa 12:6; Isa 54:1; Zec 2:10; Zec 9:9)15The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. (Ps 46:5; Zec 2:10; Mt 27:42; Joh 1:49; Re 21:3)16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. (Isa 35:3; Zep 3:11; Heb 12:12)17The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Isa 62:5; Isa 63:1; Jer 32:41; Zep 3:15)18I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.[3] (La 1:4; La 2:6)19Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. (Isa 60:14; Isa 61:7; Jer 13:11; Jer 33:9; Mic 4:6)20At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord. (Isa 11:12; Jer 32:37; Eze 11:17; Zep 2:7)