Isaiah 3

Chapter 3

Judgment against Judah

1 The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything they depend on:
every bit of bread
and every drop of water,2 all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,3 army officers and high officials,
advisers, skilled craftsmen, and astrologers.4 I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.5 People will oppress each other—
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.6 In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”7 But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!”8 For Jerusalem will stumble,
and Judah will fall,
because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him.
They provoke him to his face.9 The very look on their faces gives them away.
They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don’t even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!11 But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.12 Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.13 The LORD takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people!14 The LORD comes forward to pronounce judgment
on the elders and rulers of his people:
“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.
Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.15 How dare you crush my people,
grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”
demands the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

A Warning to Jerusalem

16 The LORD says, “Beautiful Ziont is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.17 So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
the LORD will make beautiful Zion bald.”18 On that day of judgment
the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful:
ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,19 earrings, bracelets, and veils;20 scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
perfumes, and charms;21 rings, jewels,22 party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;23 mirrors, fine linen garments,
head ornaments, and shawls.24 Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink.
She will wear a rope for a sash,
and her elegant hair will fall out.
She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes.
Shame will replace her beauty.t25 The men of the city will be killed with the sword,
and her warriors will die in battle.26 The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
The city will be like a ravaged woman,
huddled on the ground.

ISAIAH 3

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1 The mighty [Lord] All-Powerful
is going to take away
from Jerusalem and Judah
everything you need—
your bread and water,
*

2 soldiers and heroes,
judges and prophets,
leaders and army officers,

3 officials and advisors,
fortunetellers and others
who tell the future.

4 He will let children and babiest
become your rulers.

5 You will each be cruel
to friends and neighbors.
Young people will insult
their elders;
no one will show respect
to those who deserve it.

6 Some of you will grab hold
of a relative and say,
“You still have a coat.
Be our leader and rule
this pile of ruins.”

7 But the answer will be,
“I can't do you any good.
Don't make me your leader.
There's no food or clothing
left in my house.”

8 Jerusalem and Judah,
you rebelled against
your glorious [Lord]—
your words and your actions,
made you stumble and fall.

9 The look on your faces shows
that you are sinful as Sodom,
and you don't try to hide it.
You are in for trouble,
and you have brought it all
on yourselves.

The Wrong Kind of Leaders

10 Tell those who obey God,
“You're very fortunate—
you will be rewarded
for what you have done.”

11 Tell those who disobey,
“You're in big trouble—
what you did to others
will come back to you.”

12 Though you are God's people,
you are ruled and abused
by women and children.
You are confused by leaders
who guide you
down the wrong path.

13 The [Lord] is ready to accuse
and judge all nations.

14 He will even judge
you rulers and leaders
of his own nation.
You destroyed his vineyardt
and filled your houses
by robbing the poor.

15 The [Lord] All-Powerful says,
“You have crushed my people
and rubbed in the dirt
the faces of the poor.”

The Women of Jerusalem

16 The [Lord] says:
The women of Jerusalem
are proud and strut around,
winking shamelessly.
They wear anklets that jingle
and call attention
to the way they walk.

17 But I, the [Lord], will cover
their heads with sores,
and I will uncover
their private parts.

18-23 When that day comes, I will take away from those women all the fine jewelry they wear on their ankles, heads, necks, ears, arms, noses, fingers, and on their clothes. I will remove their veils, their belts, their perfume, their magic charms, their royal robes, and all their fancy dresses, hats, and purses.

24 In place of perfume,
there will be a stink;
in place of belts,
there will be ropes;
in place of fancy hairdos,
they will have bald heads.
Instead of expensive clothes,
they will wear sackcloth;
instead of beauty,
they will have ugly scars.

25 The fighting men of Jerusalem
will be killed in battle.

26 The city will mourn
and sit in the dirt,
emptied of its people.