4
1 When that happens, there will be very few unmarried men.
As a result, seven unmarried women will grab one man, and say,
“Allow us all to marry you [IDI]!
We will provide our own food and clothing.
All that we want is to no longer be disgraced because of not being married.”
A promise that some day Jerusalem will be restored
2 But some day, Israel [MTY] will be very beautiful and great/glorious.
The people of Israel who will still be there will be very proud of the wonderful fruit that grows in their land.
3 All the people who will remain in Jerusalem, who were not killed when Jerusalem was destroyed,
whose names are listed among those who live there, will be called holy.
4 That will happen when Yahweh washes away the guilt of the women of Jerusalem,
and when he stops the violence [MET] on the streets of Jerusalem by punishing the people of Jerusalem.
When he does that, it will be like a fire to burn up all the impure things.
5 Then Yahweh will send a cloud of smoke during the days and a flaming fire during the nights
to cover Jerusalem and all those who gather there;
it will be like a glorious canopy over the city
6 that will shelter the people from the sun during the daytime
and protect them when there are windstorms and rain.
Note: The Old Testament in this translation is still being worked on, and is in draft form. Updates will be posted at eBible.org/t4t/.