1Here is what the LORD who rules over all is about to do. The Lord will take away from Jerusalem and Judah supplies and help alike. He will take away all the supplies of food and water.2He’ll take away heroes and soldiers. He’ll take away judges and prophets. He’ll take away fortune tellers and elders.3He’ll take away captains of groups of 50 men. He’ll take away government leaders. He’ll take away advisers, skilled workers and those who are clever at doing evil magic.4The LORD will make mere youths their leaders. Children will rule over them.5People will treat one another badly. They will fight against one another. They will fight against their neighbours. Young people will attack old people. Ordinary people will attack those who are more important.6A man will grab one of his brothers in his father’s house. He will say, ‘You have a coat. So you be our leader. Take charge of all these broken-down buildings!’7But at that time the brother will cry out, ‘I can’t help you. I don’t have any food or clothing in my house. Don’t make me the leader of these people.’8Jerusalem is about to fall. And so is Judah. They say and do things against the LORD. They dare to disobey him to his very face.9The look on their faces is a witness against them. They show off their sin, just as the people of Sodom did. They don’t even try to hide it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought trouble on themselves.10Tell those who do what is right that things will go well with them. They will enjoy the results of the good things they’ve done.11But how terrible it will be for those who do what is evil! Trouble is about to fall on them. They will be paid back for the evil things they’ve done.12Those who are young treat my people badly. Women rule over them. My people, your leaders have taken you down the wrong path. They have turned you away from the right path.13The LORD takes his place in court. He stands up to judge the people.14He judges the elders and leaders of his people. He says to them, ‘My people are like a vineyard. You have destroyed them. The things you have taken from poor people are in your houses.15What do you mean by crushing my people? Why are you grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?’ announces the Lord. He is the LORD who rules over all.16The LORD continues, ‘The women in Zion are very proud. They walk along with their noses in the air. They tease men with their eyes. They sway their hips as they walk along. Little chains jingle on their ankles.17So I will put sores on the heads of Zion’s women. And I will remove the hair from their heads.’18At that time the Lord will take away the beautiful things they wear. He will take away their decorations, headbands and moon-shaped necklaces.19He’ll take away their earrings, bracelets and veils.20He’ll remove their headdresses, anklets and belts. He’ll take away their perfume bottles and charms.21He’ll remove the rings they wear on their fingers and in their noses.22He’ll take away their fine robes and their capes and coats. He’ll take away their purses23and mirrors. And he’ll take away their linen clothes, turbans and shawls.24Instead of smelling sweet, the women will smell bad. Instead of wearing belts, they will wear ropes. Instead of having beautiful hair, they won’t have any hair at all. Instead of wearing fine clothes, they’ll wear rough clothes to show how sad they are. Instead of being beautiful, on their bodies they’ll have the marks of their owners.25Jerusalem, your men will be killed by swords. Your soldiers will die in battle.26The city of Zion will be very sad. Like a widow, she will lose everything. She will sit on the ground and mourn.
Isaiah 3
English Standard Version
Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
1For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply,[1] all support of bread, and all support of water; (Le 26:26; Isa 1:24; Eze 4:16)2the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, (2Ki 24:14; Eze 17:13)3the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.4And I will make boys their princes, and infants[2] shall rule over them. (Ec 10:16; Isa 3:12)5And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. (Mic 7:3)6For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule”; (Isa 4:1)7in that day he will speak out, saying: “I will not be a healer;[3] in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people.” (Isa 1:6)8For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence.[4] (Ps 73:9; Isa 65:3)9For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. (Ge 13:13; Ge 18:20; Eze 16:46; Eze 16:48; Ro 6:23)10Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. (De 28:1; Ps 128:2; Ec 8:12)11Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. (De 28:15; Ec 8:13)12My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up[5] the course of your paths. (Isa 3:4; Isa 28:14)13The Lord has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples. (Ps 7:6; Ho 4:1)14The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: “It is you who have devoured[6] the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses. (Ps 14:4; Am 3:10; Mic 3:1)15What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord God of hosts. (Ps 94:5)16The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, (So 3:11; Isa 3:18; Isa 4:4; Isa 32:9)17therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts. (De 28:60; Isa 3:16)18In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; (Jud 8:21; Jud 8:26; Isa 3:16; 1Pe 3:3)19the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves;20the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; (Ex 39:28; Eze 24:17)21the signet rings and nose rings; (Ge 24:47; Eze 16:12)22the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; (Lu 15:22)23the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.24Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. (Ge 37:34; Le 19:28; Es 2:12; Pr 31:24; Isa 15:2; Isa 15:3; Isa 22:12; La 2:10; Eze 27:31; Am 8:10; Mic 1:16; 1Pe 3:3)25Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle.26And her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground. (Job 2:13; Jer 14:2; La 1:4; La 2:10)