Isaiah 3

1 For the Lord, the Lord of armies, is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah all their support; their store of bread and of water;

For, behold, the Lord, GOD of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;

2 The strong man and the man of war; the judge and the prophet; the man who has knowledge of secret arts, and the man who is wise because of his years;

the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,

3 The captain of fifty, and the man of high position, and the wise guide, and the wonder-worker, and he who makes use of secret powers.

the captain of fifty, the honourable man, the counsellor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.

4 And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.

I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.

5 And the people will be crushed, every one by his neighbour; the young will be full of pride against the old, and those of low position will be lifted up against the noble.

The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbour. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honourable.

6 When one man puts his hand on another in his father's house, and says, You have clothing, be our ruler and be responsible for us in our sad condition:

Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.”

7 Then he will say with an oath, I will not be a helper, for in my house there is no bread or clothing: I will not let you make me a ruler of the people.

In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.”

8 For Jerusalem has become feeble, and destruction has come on Judah, because their words and their acts are against the Lord, moving the eyes of his glory to wrath.

For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

9 Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them; and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full.

The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.

10 Happy is the upright man! for he will have joy of the fruit of his ways.

Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.

11 Unhappy is the sinner! for the reward of his evil doings will come on him.

Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.

12 As for my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way.

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.

13 The Lord is ready to take up his cause against his people, and is about to come forward as their judge.

The LORD stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.

14 The Lord comes to be the judge of their responsible men and of their rulers: it is you who have made waste the vine-garden, and in your houses is the property of the poor which you have taken by force.

The LORD will enter into judgement with the elders of his people and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

15 By what right are you crushing my people, and putting a bitter yoke on the necks of the poor? This is the word of the Lord, the Lord of armies.

What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, GOD of Armies.

16 Again, the Lord has said, Because the daughters of Zion are full of pride, and go with outstretched necks and wandering eyes, with their foot-chains sounding when they go:

Moreover the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking daintily as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;

17 The Lord will send disease on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will let their secret parts be seen.

therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and the LORD will make their scalps bald.”

18 In that day the Lord will take away the glory of their foot-rings, and their sun-jewels, and their moon-ornaments,

In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,

19 The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing,

the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,

20 The head-bands, and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the jewels with secret powers,

the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms,

21 The rings, and the nose-jewels,

the signet rings, the nose rings,

22 The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,

the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,

23 The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils.

the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

24 And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.

It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

25 Your men will be put to the sword, and your men of war will come to destruction in the fight.

Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.

26 And in the public places of her towns will be sorrow and weeping; and she will be seated on the earth, waste and uncovered.

Her gates shall lament and mourn. She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.