Isaiah 3

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

See now, the Lord,

the Lord Almighty,

is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah

both supply and support:^a

all supplies of food^b and all supplies of water,^c

the hero and the warrior,^d

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner^e and the elder,^f

the captain of fifty^g and the person of rank,^h

the counselor, skilled workerⁱ and clever enchanter.^j

I will make mere youths their officials;

children will govern them.^k

People will oppress each other—

one against another, neighbor against neighbor.^l

The young will rise up against the old,

the nobody against the honored.

A man will seize one of his brothers

in his father’s house, and say,

“You have a cloak, you be our leader;

take charge of this heap of ruins!”

But in that day^m he will cry out,

“I have no remedy.ⁿ

I have no food^o or clothing in my house;

do not make me the leader of the people.”^p

Jerusalem staggers,

Judah is falling;^q

their words^r and deeds^s are against the Lord,

defying^t his glorious presence.

The look on their faces testifies^u against them;

they parade their sin like Sodom;^v

they do not hide it.

Woe to them!

They have brought disaster^w upon themselves.

Tell the righteous it will be well^x with them,

for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.^y

Woe to the wicked!^z

Disaster^a is upon them!

They will be paid back^b

for what their hands have done.^c

Youths^d oppress my people,

women rule over them.

My people, your guides lead you astray;^e

they turn you from the path.

The Lord takes his place in court;^f

he rises to judge^g the people.

The Lord enters into judgment^h

against the elders and leaders of his people:

“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;

the plunderⁱ from the poor^j is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing my people^k

and grinding^l the faces of the poor?”^m

declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.ⁿ

The Lord says,

“The women of Zion^o are haughty,

walking along with outstretched necks,^p

flirting with their eyes,

tripping along with mincing steps,

with ornaments jingling on their ankles.

Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;

the Lord will make their scalps bald.^q”

In that day^r the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,^s the earrings and bracelets^t and veils,^u the headdresses^v and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings,^w the fine robes and the capes and cloaks,^x the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments^y and tiaras^z and shawls.

Instead of fragrance^a there will be a stench;^b

instead of a sash,^c a rope;

instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;^d

instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;^e

instead of beauty,^f branding.^g

Your men will fall by the sword,^h

your warriors in battle.ⁱ

The gates^j of Zion will lament and mourn;^k

destitute,^l she will sit on the ground.^m