1 Understand this:The Lord God All-Powerfulwill take away everything Judah and Jerusalem need—all the food and water,
2 the heroes and great soldiers,the judges and prophets,people who do magic and elders,
3 the military leaders and government leaders,the counselors, the skilled craftsmen, and those who try to tell the future.
4 The Lord says, “I will cause young boys to be your leaders,and foolish children will rule over you.
5 People will be against each other; everyone will be against his neighbor.Young people will not respect older people,and common people will not respect important people.”
6 At that time a man will grab one of his brothersfrom his own family and say,“You have a coat, so you will be our leader.These ruins will be under your control.”
7 But that brother will stand up and say,“I cannot help you,because I do not have food or clothes in my house.You will not make me your leader.”