Isaiah Chapter 3

Judgment Against Judah

¹ The Lord Yahveh of Hosts will remove

food and water from Judah and Jerusalem,

² strong men and soldiers, judges and prophets,

      fortunetellers and elders,

³ captains of 50 and their men,

      advisors, expert magicians, and skilled astrologers.

⁴ “I’ll make boys their officials,

            babies their rulers;

      ⁵ people will oppress one another,

            neighbor against neighbor;

      youths will insult elders;

            inferiors will be rude to honorable citizens.”

Is 3:1-5

⁶ At that time, a man will grab his brother and say,

      “You have a mantle; be our leader;

            rule this pile of ruins.”

      ⁷But he’ll protest,

            “I won’t be your leader;

                  I don’t have a mantel or extra food at home;

                  don’t expect me to lead you.”

⁸ Jerusalem will stumble, Judah will fall,

      because their words and deeds oppose Yahveh.

      They’ve rebelled against his glorious presence.

⁹ Even the looks on their faces give them away;

      they show their sin like Sodom;

      they don’t even try to hide it;

      they’re doomed by the disaster they’ve brought on themselves.

¹⁰ Tell good people it’ll go well with them;

            they’ll eat what their efforts produce.

      ¹¹ But doom awaits the wicked! It’ll be bad for them

            because they’ll get what they deserve.

¹² Children oppress my people;

            women rule them.

      My people’s guides get them lost;

            they give them wrong directions.                  

Is 3:6-12

¹³ Yahveh is getting up to contend in court,

      to render verdict against the people.

¹⁴ He’s going to sue the officials of his people:

      “You’re the ones that have ruined my vineyard;

            plunder from poor people sits in your houses;

      ¹⁵ what do you mean crushing my people,

            grinding their faces in the dirt?”

                                                            the Lord Yahveh of Hosts says.

Is 3:13-15

From Beauty to Ruin

                              ¹⁶ “Because the young women of Zion are proud

                                          and walk with heads held high and flirting eyes,

                                    because they prance along with dainty steps

                                          and tinkle the bangles on their feet,

                              ¹⁷ I’ll strike their scalps with scabs

                                    and shave off their eyebrows.                        

Is 3:16-17

¹⁸ I’ll take away their pretty anklets, headbands, and crescent necklaces;

¹⁹ dangling earrings, bracelets, and veils; ²⁰ headdresses and ankle bracelets; sashes, perfume boxes, and charms; ²¹ finger rings and nose rings; ²² fine robes, gowns, capes, and handbags; ²³ hand mirrors, linen clothes, tiaras, and shawls.

                              ²⁴ Instead of sweet perfume, there’ll be stench;

                                    instead of a girdle, a rope;

                                    instead of permed hair, baldness;

                                    instead of a fine robe, burlap;

                                    and instead of beauty, branding.

                              ²⁵ The young men of Israel will fall by the sword;

                                    the strong will die in battle.

                              ²⁶ The city gates will hang in lament and mourning;

Jerusalem will sit on the ground like a raped woman.”

Is 3:18-26