Isaiah 3

¹Isaiah 3:1. For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,²Isaiah 3:2. the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,³Isaiah 3:3. the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.⁴Isaiah 3:4. “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”⁵Isaiah 3:5. The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.⁶Isaiah 3:6. A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.”⁷Isaiah 3:7. On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”⁸Isaiah 3:8. For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen because they spoke and acted against the LORD, defying His glorious presence.⁹Isaiah 3:9. The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.¹⁰Isaiah 3:10. Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.¹¹Isaiah 3:11. Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.¹²Isaiah 3:12. Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.¹³Isaiah 3:13. The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.¹⁴Isaiah 3:14. The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.¹⁵Isaiah 3:15. Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

¹⁶Isaiah 3:16. The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—¹⁷Isaiah 3:17. the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”¹⁸Isaiah 3:18. In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;¹⁹Isaiah 3:19. their pendants, bracelets, and veils;²⁰Isaiah 3:20. their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;²¹Isaiah 3:21. their signet rings and nose rings;²²Isaiah 3:22. their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;²³Isaiah 3:23. and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.²⁴Isaiah 3:24. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.²⁵Isaiah 3:25. Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.²⁶Isaiah 3:26. And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.