¹Seven women will grab hold of

one man at that time.

They will say, “We will provide our own food,

we will provide our own clothes;

but let us belong to you –

take away our shame!”

The Branch of the Lord

²At that time[#tn Or “in that day” (KJV).]

the crops given by the Lord will bring admiration and honor;

the produce of the land will be a source of pride and delight

to those who remain in Israel.

³Those remaining in Zion, those left in Jerusalem,[#tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.; #map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.]

will be called “holy,”

all in Jerusalem who are destined to live.

⁴At that time the sovereign master will wash the excrement from Zion’s women,[#tn Heb “when” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); CEV “after”; NRSV “once.”; #tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).; #tn The word refers elsewhere to vomit (Isa 28:8) and fecal material (Isa 36:12). Many English versions render this somewhat euphemistically as “filth” (e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV). Ironically in God’s sight the beautiful jewelry described earlier is nothing but vomit and feces, for it symbolizes the moral decay of the city’s residents (cf. NLT “moral filth”).]

he will rinse the bloodstains from Jerusalem’s midst,

as he comes to judge

and to bring devastation.

⁵Then the Lord will create

over all of Mount Zion

and over its convocations

a cloud and smoke by day

and a bright flame of fire by night;

indeed a canopy will accompany the Lord ’s glorious presence.

⁶By day it will be a shelter to provide shade from the heat,

as well as safety and protection from the heavy downpour.