Isaiah 3
3
Judah’s Leaders Judged
1Observe this: The Lord God of Hosts
is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
every kind of security:
the entire supply of bread and water,
2the hero and warrior, # 2Kg 24:14; Ezk 17:13-14
the judge and prophet,
the fortune-teller and elder,
3the commander of 50 and the dignitary,
the counselor, cunning magician, # Or skilled craftsman and necromancer. # Or medium
4“I will make youths their leaders, # Ec 10:16
and the unstable # Or mischief-makers will govern them.”
5The people will oppress one another, # Mc 7:3-6
man against man, neighbor against neighbor;
the youth will act arrogantly toward the elder,
and the worthless toward the honorable.
6A man will even seize his brother
in his father’s house, saying:
“You have a cloak — you be our leader!
This heap of rubble will be under your control.”
7On that day he will cry out, saying:
“I’m not a healer.
I don’t even have food or clothing in my house.
Don’t make me the leader of the people! ”
8For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen
because they have spoken and acted against the Lord, # Ps 73:9-11
defying His glorious presence. # Nm 14:22-23; Is 43:7; 48:11; 59:19
9The look on their faces testifies against them,
and like Sodom, # Is 1:9-10; 13:19 they flaunt their sin.
They do not conceal it.
Woe to them,
for they have brought evil on themselves. # Rm 6:23
10Tell the righteous that it will go well for them,
for they will eat the fruit of their labor.
11Woe to the wicked — it will go badly for them,
for what they have done will be done to them.
12Youths oppress My people, # Is 3:4
and women rule over them.
My people, your leaders mislead you;
they confuse the direction of your paths. # Is 28:14-22
13The Lord rises to argue the case
and stands to judge the people. # Ps 7:6; Hs 4:1
14The Lord brings this charge
against the elders and leaders of His people: # Mc 3:1-3
“You have devastated the vineyard.
The plunder from the poor is in your houses. # Ezk 18:10-18; 33:15
15Why do you crush My people
and grind the faces of the poor? ”
This is the declaration
of the Lord God of Hosts.
Jerusalem’s Women Judged
16The Lord also says:
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, # Is 32:9-15; 1Pt 3:3-4
walking with heads held high
and seductive eyes,
going along with prancing steps,
jingling their ankle bracelets,
17the Lord will put scabs on the heads
of the daughters of Zion,
and the Lord will shave their foreheads bare.
18On that day # Is 27:12 the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents, # Jdg 8:21,26 19pendants, bracelets, veils, 20headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets, # Ezk 24:17 21signet rings, nose rings, # Gn 24:47; Ezk 16:12 22festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses, 23garments, linen clothes, turbans, and veils.
24Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair, # 1Pt 3:3 baldness; # Is 15:2; 22:12; Ezk 27:31; Am 8:10; Mc 1:16
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; # Gn 37:34; Is 15:3; Jr 48:36-38; Lm 2:10
instead of beauty, branding. # DSS read shame
25Your men will fall by the sword,
your warriors in battle.
26Then her gates # Jr 14:2; Lm 1:4 will lament and mourn;
deserted, she will sit on the ground. # Jb 2:13; Is 47:1; Lm 2:10
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Isaiah 3
3
Judgment against Judah
1The 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,
2all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3army officers and high officials,
advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.
4I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.
5People will oppress each other—
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.
6In 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!”
7But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!”
8For 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.
9The 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.
10Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.
12Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.
13The Lord takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people.#3:13 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads against the peoples.
14The 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.
15How 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
16The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion#3:16 Or The women of Zion (with corresponding changes to plural forms through verse 24); Hebrew reads The daughters of Zion; also in 3:17. is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.
17So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
the Lord will make beautiful Zion bald.”
18On that day of judgment
the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful:
ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
19earrings, bracelets, and veils;
20scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
perfumes, and charms;
21rings, jewels,
22party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
23mirrors, fine linen garments,
head ornaments, and shawls.
24Instead 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.#3:24 As in Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads robes / because instead of beauty.
25The men of the city will be killed with the sword,
and her warriors will die in battle.
26The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
The city will be like a ravaged woman,
huddled on the ground.
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