Isaiah 3
Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
¹ For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply 1 and support: the whole supply of food and water,
² the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,
³ the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.
⁴ “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will 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.
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.”
⁷ On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer.2 I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”
⁸ For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence.3
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.
¹⁰ Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
¹¹ Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
¹² Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
¹³ The LORD arises to contend; He stands 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.
¹⁵ Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
A Warning to the Daughters of Zion
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—
¹⁷ the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.4”
¹⁸ In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;
¹⁹ their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
²⁰ their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;
²¹ their signet rings and nose rings;
²² their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;
²³ and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.
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.5
²⁵ Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.
²⁶ And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.