Isaiah 24

1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

Behold, Jehovah emptieth and draineth the land; Yea, he turneth it upside down, and scattereth 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.

As with the people, so is it with the priest; As with the servant, so with the master; As with the maid, so with the mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the borrower, so with the lender; As with the usurer, so with the giver of usury.

3 The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for the LORD has spoken this word.

The land is utterly emptied and utterly plundered; For Jehovah hath spoken this word.

4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

The land mourneth, and withereth; The world languisheth, and withereth; The nobles of the people of the land do languish.

5 The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

The land was polluted under its inhabitants, Because they transgressed the law, they violated the statutes, They broke the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

Therefore a curse devoured the land; Its inhabitants suffered for their guilt; Therefore are the inhabitants of the land consumed with heat, And few of the men are left.

7 The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.

The new wine mourneth; The vine languisheth; All that were of a joyful heart do sigh;

8 The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.

The mirth of tabrets ceaseth; The noise of them that rejoice is at an end; The joy of the harp ceaseth.

9 They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

No more do they drink wine with the song; Strong drink is bitter to them that use it.

10 The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

The city of desolation is broken down; Every house is closed, so that none can enter.

11 There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.

There is a cry for wine in the streets; All gladness is departed; The mirth of the land is gone;

12 The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.

Desolation is left in the city, And the gate is smitten into ruins.

13 For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

Yea, thus shall it be in the land, in the midst of the people, As when the olive-tree has been shaken; As the gleaning, when the vintage is ended.

14 These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of the LORD. They cry aloud from the sea.

These shall lift up their voice, and sing; Yea, for the majesty of Jehovah they shall shout from the sea.

15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!

Wherefore praise ye Jehovah in the East, The name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea!

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.

From the end of the earth we hear songs: “Glory to the righteous!” But I cry, Alas, my wretchedness, my wretchedness! woe is me! The plunderers plunder; the plunderers seize the spoil.

17 Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.

The terror, the pit, and the snare Are upon thee, O inhabitant of the land!

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 middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

Whoso fleeth from the terror shall fall into the pit, And whoso escapeth from the pit, He shall be taken in the snare; For the floodgates of heaven are opened, And the foundations of the earth tremble.

19 The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.

The earth is utterly broken down; The earth is shattered in pieces; The earth is violently moved from her place.

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 reeleth like a drunkard, It moveth to and fro like a hammock; For her iniquity lieth heavy upon her, And she shall fall and rise no more.

21 It will happen in that day that the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

In that day will Jehovah punish the host of the high ones that are on high, And the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; and after many days they will be visited.

They shall be thrown together bound into the pit, And shall be shut up in the prison, But after many days shall they be visited.

23 Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.

The moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, When Jehovah of hosts shall reign in mount Zion and Jerusalem, And his glory shall be before his ancients.