< Isaiah 3 >

1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,
For behold the sovereign the Lord of hosts shall take away from Jerusalem, and from Juda the valiant and the strong, the whole strength of bread, and the whole strength of water.
2 the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,
The strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the cunning man, and the ancient.
3 the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.
The captain over fifty, and the honourable in countenance, and the counsellor, and the architect, and the skillful in eloquent speech.
4 “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”
And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate shall rule over them.
5 The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.
And the people shall rush one upon another, and every man against his neighbour: the child shall make it tumult against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
6 A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.”
For a man shall take hold or his brother, one of the house of his father, saying: Thou hast a garment, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand.
7 On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”
In that day he shall answer, saying: I am no healer, and in my house there is no bread, nor clothing: make me not ruler of the people.
8 For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence.
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Juda is fallen: because their tongue, and their devices are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his majesty.
9 The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
The shew of their countenance hath answered them: and they have proclaimed abroad their sin as Sodom, and they have not hid it: woe to their souls, for evils are rendered to them.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit of his doings.
11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps.
13 The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.
The Lord standeth up to judge, and he standeth to judge the people.
14 The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and its princes: for you have devoured the vineyard, and the spoil of the poor is in your house.
15 Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?”
Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the God of hosts.
16 The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty— walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—
And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, and made a noise as they walked with their feet and moved in a set pace:
17 the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”
The Lord will make bald the crown of the head of the daughters of Sion, and the Lord will discover their hair.
18 In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;
In that day the Lord will take away the ornaments of shoes, and little moons,
19 their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets,
20 their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;
And bodkins, and ornaments of the legs, and tablets, and sweet balls, and earrings,
21 their signet rings and nose rings;
And rings, and jewels hanging on the forehead,
22 their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;
And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and crisping pins,
23 and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.
And looking-glasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils.
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.
And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead of a stomacher, haircloth.
25 Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.
Thy fairest men also shall fall by the sword, and thy valiant ones in battle.
26 And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall sit desolate on the ground.

< Isaiah 3 >