Isaiah 24

1 Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

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 And it shall 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 to him.

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 shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.

The earth will be completely laid waste and looted. This is what the Lord has said.

4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do 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 the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, 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 hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein 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 mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh.

The new wine dries up, and the vine withers. All the people celebrating groan.

8 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

The happy sound of tambourines is over; the noise of the party-goers has stopped; the delightful harp music has finished,

9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

People don't sing any more as they drink wine, and the beer tastes bitter.

10 The waste 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 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

The city is in a horrible state of ruin; its gates have been broken down.

13 For thus shall it be 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 shall shout; for the majesty of Jehovah they cry aloud from the sea.

These survivors shout aloud and sing for joy. From the west they praise the Lord's majesty.

15 Wherefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east, even the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles 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; yea, 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, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

Terrors and pit-traps and snares are waiting for you, people of the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows on high 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 rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently.

The earth is completely broken up; the earth is ripped apart, the earth is violently shaken.

20 The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall 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 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

At that time the Lord will punish all the high heavenly beings and the kings of the earth.

22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, 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 Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall 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.