Isaiah 3

1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;

For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,

2 the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the ancient;

the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,

3 the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the skilful enchanter.

the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

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

“I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”

5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

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 When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

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 in that day shall he lift up [his voice], saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: ye shall not make me ruler of the people.

On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”

8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence.

9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

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 Say ye of the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

11 Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

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 standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the peoples.

The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.

14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses:

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 what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?”

16 Moreover the LORD said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

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 therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”

18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their anklets, and the cauls, and the crescents;

In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;

19 the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers;

their pendants, bracelets, and veils;

20 the headtires, and the ankle chains, and the sashes, and the perfume boxes, and the amulets;

their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;

21 the rings, and the nose jewels;

their signet rings and nose rings;

22 the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;

their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;

23 the hand mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.

and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle a rope; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth: branding instead of beauty.

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.

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

Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.

26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit upon the ground.

And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.