Isaiah 3
1See, the Lord Yahweh of hosts is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah 1 support and staff: the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water, 1
2the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the one who practices divination and the elder, 1
3the captain of fifty and the respected citizen, the counselor, the expert craftsman and the skillful enchanter. 1
4“I will place mere youths as their leaders, and the young will rule over them. 1
5The people will be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor; 1 the child will insult the elderly, and the degraded will challenge the honorable. 1
6A man will even take hold of his brother in his father's house 1 and say, 'You have a coat; be our ruler, and let this ruin be in your hands.' 1
7On that day he will shout and say, 1 'I will not be a healer; I have no bread or clothing. 1 You will not make me ruler of the people.'” 1
8For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, 1 because their speech and their actions are against Yahweh, defying the eyes of his glory. 1
9The look on their faces witnesses against them; and they tell of their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. 1 Woe to them! For they have completed a catastrophe for themselves. 1
10Tell the righteous person that it will be well, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds. 1
11Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him, for the recompense of his hands will be done to him. 1
12My people—children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. 1 My people, those who guide you lead you astray and confuse the direction of your path. 1
13Yahweh stands up for an accusation; he is standing to accuse the people. 1
14Yahweh will come with judgment against the elders of his people and their leaders: 1 “You have ruined the vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. 1
15Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?” 1 This is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts. 1
16Yahweh says that because the daughters of Zion are proud, 1 they walk with their necks extended, 1 with flirting eyes, walking with tiny steps as they go, 1 making tinkling sounds from bracelets on their ankles. 1
17Therefore the Lord will form scabs on the heads of the daughters of Zion, 1 and Yahweh will make them bald. 1
18On that day the Lord will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, head bands, the crescent ornaments, 1
19the ear pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; 1
20the headscarves, the ankle chains, the sashes, and the perfume boxes, and the lucky charms. 1
21He will remove the rings and the nose jewels; 1
22the festive robes, the mantles, the veils, and the handbags; 1
23the hand mirrors, the fine linen, the head pieces, and the wraps. 1
24Instead of sweet perfume there will be stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; 1 instead of well-arranged hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a covering of sackcloth; 1 and branding instead of beauty. 1
25Your men will fall by the sword, and your strong men will fall in war. 1
26Jerusalem's gates will lament and mourn; and she will be alone and sit upon the ground.