Isaiah 3
3
God Will Punish Judah and Jerusalem
1Understand this:
The Lord God All-Powerful
will take away everything Judah and Jerusalem need—
all the food and water,
2the heroes and great soldiers,
the judges and prophets,
people who do magic and elders,
3the military leaders and government leaders,
the counselors, the skilled craftsmen, and those who try to tell the future.
4The Lord says, “I will cause young boys to be your leaders,
and foolish children will rule over you.
5People will be against each other; everyone will be against his neighbor.
Young people will not respect older people,
and common people will not respect important people.”
6At that time a man will grab one of his brothers
from his own family and say,
“You have a coat, so you will be our leader.
These ruins will be under your control.”
7But that brother will stand up and say,
“I cannot help you,
because I do not have food or clothes in my house.
You will not make me your leader.”
8This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled,
and Judah has fallen.
The things they say and do are against the Lord;
they turn against him.
9The look on their faces shows they are guilty;
like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin.
They don’t care who sees it.
How terrible it will be for them,
because they have brought much trouble on themselves.
10Tell those who do what is right that things will go well for them,
because they will receive a reward for what they do.
11But how terrible it will be for the wicked!
They will be punished for all the wrong they have done.
12Children treat my people cruelly,
and women rule over them.
My people, your guides lead you in the wrong way
and turn you away from what is right.
13The Lord takes his place in court
and stands to judge the people.
14The Lord presents his case
against the elders and other leaders of his people:
“You have burned the vineyard.
Your houses are full of what you took from the poor.
15What gives you the right to crush my people
and grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?”
The Lord God All-Powerful says this.
A Warning to Women of Jerusalem
16The Lord says,
“The women of Jerusalem are proud.
They walk around with their heads held high,
and they flirt with their eyes.
They take quick, short steps,
making noise with their ankle bracelets.”
17So the Lord will put sores on the heads of those women in Jerusalem,
and he will make them lose their hair.
18At that time the Lord will take away everything that makes them proud: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their necklaces shaped like the moon, 19their earrings, bracelets, and veils, 20their scarves, ankle chains, the cloth belts worn around their waists, their bottles of perfume, and charms, 21their signet rings, nose rings, 22their fine robes, capes, shawls, and purses, 23their mirrors, linen dresses, turbans, and long shawls.
24Instead of wearing sweet-smelling perfume, they will stink.
Instead of fine cloth belts, they will wear the ropes of captives.
Instead of having their hair fixed in fancy ways, they will be bald.
Instead of fine clothes, they will wear clothes of sadness.
Instead of being beautiful, they will wear the brand of a captive.
25At that time your men will be killed with swords,
and your heroes will die in war.
26There will be crying and sadness near the city gates.
Jerusalem will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground.
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 3: NCV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 3
3
Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah
1The mighty Lord All-Powerful
is going to take away
from Jerusalem and Judah
everything you need—
your bread and water,
* 2soldiers and heroes,
judges and prophets,
leaders and army officers,
3officials and advisors,
fortunetellers and others
who tell the future.
4He will let children and babies#3.4 babies: Or “worthless nobodies.”
become your rulers.
5You will each be cruel
to friends and neighbors.
Young people will insult
their elders;
no one will show respect
to those who deserve it.
6Some of you will grab hold
of a relative and say,
“You still have a coat.
Be our leader and rule
this pile of ruins.”
7But 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.”
8Jerusalem and Judah,
you rebelled against
your glorious Lord—
your words and your actions,
made you stumble and fall.
9The 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
10Tell those who obey God,
“You're very fortunate—
you will be rewarded
for what you have done.”
11Tell those who disobey,
“You're in big trouble—
what you did to others
will come back to you.”
12Though 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.
13The Lord is ready to accuse
and judge all nations.
14He will even judge
you rulers and leaders
of his own nation.
You destroyed his vineyard#3.14 his vineyard: The nation Israel (see 5.1-7).
and filled your houses
by robbing the poor.
15The Lord All-Powerful says,
“You have crushed my people
and rubbed in the dirt
the faces of the poor.”
The Women of Jerusalem
16The 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.
17But I, the Lord, will cover
their heads with sores,
and I will uncover
their private parts.
18-23When 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.
24In 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.
25The fighting men of Jerusalem
will be killed in battle.
26The city will mourn
and sit in the dirt,
emptied of its people.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.