Isaiah 3

1 For, behold, the Lord, the Eternal of hosts, doth remove from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, every stay of bread, and every stay 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 hero, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

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

3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the skilful artificer, and the eloquent orator.

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

4 And I will set up boys as their princes, and children shall rule over them.

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

5 And so shall the people press man against man, and one against the other: the boy shall demean himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable.

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 When a man will seize hold on his brother in the house of his father, [saying, ] Thou hast a garment, thou shalt be 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 He will swear on that day, saying, I will not be a chief; and in my house is neither bread nor clothing; you shall not appoint me a 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 sunk to decay, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to incense the eyes of his glory.

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 boldness of their face testifieth against them; and like Sodom they tell openly their sin, they conceal it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have prepared evil unto themselves.

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 ye to the righteous, that he hath done well; for the fruit of their doings shall they eat.

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 unto the wicked who doeth evil; for the recompense of his hands shall be bestowed on him.

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

12 My people! their oppressors are children, and women rule over them. O my people! thy leaders cause thee to err, and the direction of thy paths they corrupt.

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 is stepped forth to plead, and standeth up 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 their princes; but ye—ye have eaten up the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.

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 What mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind down the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the Eternal 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, Forasmuch as the daughters of Zion are proud, and walk with stretched forth necks and casting about their eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

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 Therefore will the Lord smite with leprosy the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay open their nakedness.

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

18 On that day will the Lord take away the beauty of their tinkling shoe-buckles, and the hair-nets, and the crescent-shaped ornaments,

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

19 The drops, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

pendant earrings, bracelets, veils,

20 The bonnets, and the foot-chains, and the head-bands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

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

21 The finger-rings, and nose-jewels,

rings, nose rings,

22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the pockets.

festival clothes, gowns, cloaks, handbags,

23 The mirrors, and the chemisettes, and the turbans, and the long vails.

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

24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be corruption; and instead of a girdle a rope; and instead of curled hair baldness; and instead of a wide garment a girding of sackcloth, a mark of burning instead of beauty.

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 men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty ones in the war.

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

26 And then shall her gates lament and mourn; and stript of all shall she sit upon the ground.

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