Isaiah 3

1 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.

Take a look! The Lord, the Lord Almighty, is going to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah everything they rely on—all their stocks of food and all means of supplying water,

2 The strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the cunning man, and the ancient.

their strong fighters and soldiers, leaders and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders,

3 The captain over fifty, and the honourable in countenance, and the counsellor, and the architect, and the skillful in eloquent speech.

army captains, state officials, counselors, craftsmen, masters of magic, and experts in the occult.

4 And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate shall rule over them.

I will give them boys as their leaders who will rule over them in childish ways.

5 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.

People will mistreat one another, person against person, neighbor against neighbor; the young will assault the old, and the dregs of society will attack those who are reputable.

6 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.

A man will grab hold of one of his brothers in their father's house, and tell him, “You've got a coat, you can be our leader! Take over the running of this pile of ruins!”

7 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.

But immediately his brother will shout back, “No, not me! I can't take care of this family's problems. In my house I don't have food or clothes. Don't put me in charge as your leader!”

8 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.

For Jerusalem has collapsed and Judah has fallen because of what they said and did in opposition to the Lord, rebelling right in front of him.

9 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.

The look on their faces proves what they've done, proclaiming their sin just like Sodom—they don't even bother to try and hide it! Tragedy is coming to them! They have brought disaster down upon themselves.

10 Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit of his doings.

Tell those who live right that they will be fine, for they will be happy to receive the reward for what they have done.

11 Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

But tragedy comes to the wicked, for what they did will be done to them.

12 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.

Leaders who act in childish ways mistreat my people; women rule over them. My people, your leaders are misleading you, confusing you about which way to go.

13 The Lord standeth up to judge, and he standeth to judge the people.

The Lord stands up to prosecute his case. The Lord stands up to judge the people.

14 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.

The Lord comes to give his judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: You are the ones who have destroyed my vineyard; your houses are full with everything you've stolen from the poor.

15 Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the God of hosts.

Why have you crushed my people? Why have you ground the faces of the poor into the dirt? the Lord Almighty demands to know.

16 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:

The Lord says, The women of Zion are so conceited, walking with their heads held high, giving flirty glances, tripping along with their ankle bracelets jingling.

17 The Lord will make bald the crown of the head of the daughters of Sion, and the Lord will discover their hair.

So the Lord will make their heads full of scabs, and the Lord will expose their private parts.

18 In that day the Lord will take away the ornaments of shoes, and little moons,

At that time the Lord will remove their fine ornaments: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescent necklaces,

19 And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets,

pendant earrings, bracelets, veils,

20 And bodkins, and ornaments of the legs, and tablets, and sweet balls, and earrings,

headdresses, bangles, sashes, perfume holders, lucky charms,

21 And rings, and jewels hanging on the forehead,

rings, nose rings,

22 And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and crisping pins,

festival clothes, gowns, cloaks, handbags,

23 And looking-glasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils.

hand mirrors, fine linen underwear, head wraps, and shawls.

24 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.

What will happen is that instead of smelling of perfume, she will stink. Instead of a wearing a sash, she will be tied with a rope. Instead of styled hair, she will be bald. Instead of fine clothes, she will wear sackcloth. Instead of looking beautiful, she will be shamed.

25 Thy fairest men also shall fall by the sword, and thy valiant ones in battle.

Your men will be killed by the sword; your soldiers will die in battle.

26 And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall sit desolate on the ground.

The gates of Zion will cry and mourn. The city will be like a banished woman sitting on the ground.