1 When that happens, there will be very few unmarried men still alive.

As a result, seven unmarried women will grab one man, and say,

"Allow us all to marry you [IDM]!

We will provide our own food and clothing.

All that we want is to no longer be disgraced because of not being married."

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 every day and a flaming fire every night

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.