Isaiah 3
Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
[1] For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts
is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah
support and supply,
all support of bread,
and all support of water;
[2] the mighty man and the soldier,
the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder,
[3] the captain of fifty
and the man of rank,
the counselor and the skillful magician
and the expert in charms.
[4] And I will make boys their princes,
and infants shall rule over them.
[5] And the people will oppress one another,
every one his fellow
and every one his neighbor;
the youth will be insolent to the elder,
and the despised to the honorable.
[6] For a man will take hold of his brother
in the house of his father, saying:
“You have a cloak;
you shall be our leader,
and this heap of ruins
shall be under your rule”;
[7] in that day he will speak out, saying:
“I will not be a healer;
in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;
you shall not make me
leader of the people.”
[8] For Jerusalem has stumbled,
and Judah has fallen,
because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.
[9] For the look on their faces bears witness against them;
they proclaim their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.
[10] Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them,
for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
[11] Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,
for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
[12] My people—infants are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your guides mislead you
and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.
[13] The LORD has taken his place to contend;
he stands to judge peoples.
[14] The LORD will enter into judgment
with the elders and princes of his people:
“It is you who have devoured the vineyard,
the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
[15] What do you mean by crushing my people,
by grinding the face of the poor?”
declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
[16] The LORD said:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty
and walk with outstretched necks,
glancing wantonly with their eyes,
mincing along as they go,
tinkling with their feet,
[17] therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
the heads of the daughters of Zion,
and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.
[18] In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; [19] the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; [20] the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; [21] the signet rings and nose rings; [22] the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; [23] the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.
[24] Instead of perfume there will be rottenness;
and instead of a belt, a rope;
and instead of well-set hair, baldness;
and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
[25] Your men shall fall by the sword
and your mighty men in battle.
[26] And her gates shall lament and mourn;
empty, she shall sit on the ground. (ESV)
