Isaiah 24
1 Look, YHWH makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.
Watch out! The Lord is going to destroy the earth, to make it totally devastated. He's going to rip up the surface of the earth and scatter its inhabitants.
2 It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.
It will happen the same for everybody—whether people or priests, servants or their masters, maids or their mistresses, buyers or sellers, lenders or borrowers, creditors or debtors.
3 The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for YHWH has spoken this word.
The earth will be completely laid waste and looted. This is what the Lord has said.
4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.
The earth dries up and withers away; the world shrivels up and withers away, the high and mighty people shrivel up along with the earth.
5 The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the law, violated the statute, and broken the everlasting covenant.
The earth is polluted by its people; they have flouted God's laws, violated his regulations, and broken the eternal agreement with him.
6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
That is why a curse is destroying the earth. The people suffer because of their guilt. The inhabitants of the earth are burned up and only a few survive.
7 The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.
The new wine dries up, and the vine withers. All the people celebrating groan.
8 The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.
The happy sound of tambourines is over; the noise of the party-goers has stopped; the delightful harp music has finished,
9 They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
People don't sing any more as they drink wine, and the beer tastes bitter.
10 The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
The chaotic city is falling apart; every house is barred shut to keep others out.
11 There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.
Crowds on the street are shouting, demanding to have wine. Joy turns into darkness. There's no happiness left on earth.
12 The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.
The city is in a horrible state of ruin; its gates have been broken down.
13 For it will be so in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.
This is the way it's going to be all throughout the earth among the nations—only a few olives are left after the tree is shaken, only a few grapes are left to be gleaned after the harvest.
14 These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of YHWH. They cry aloud from the sea.
These survivors shout aloud and sing for joy. From the west they praise the Lord's majesty.
15 Therefore glorify YHWH in the east, even the name of YHWH, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.
From the east they glorify the Lord; from the sea shores they praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous. But I said, "I pine away. I pine away. Woe is me." The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
We hear songs coming from the ends of the earth, singing, “Glory to the God who does right.” But I'm miserable, miserable. Pity me! Deceitful people go on betraying, again and again.
17 Fear, the pit, and the snare, are on you who inhabitant the earth.
Terrors and pit-traps and snares are waiting for you, people of the earth.
18 It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
Those who run away in terror will fall into a pit-trap, and those who escape from the pit-trap will be caught in a snare. Heaven's windows are opened; earth's foundations shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.
The earth is completely broken up; the earth is ripped apart, the earth is violently shaken.
20 The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.
The earth staggers to and fro like a drunk, and sways this way and that like a shelter. The guilt of its rebelliousness weighs heavily on it, and it collapses—it won't rise again.
21 It shall happen in that day that YHWH will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
At that time the Lord will punish all the high heavenly beings and the kings of the earth.
22 And they will be gathered, a gathering in a dungeon, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.
They will be brought together, prisoners in a pit. They will be imprisoned, and eventually they will be punished.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, for YHWH of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders will be glory.
The moon will be embarrassed and the sun will be ashamed, for the Lord Almighty will reign in glory on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem in the presence of its leaders.
