Isaiah 3
A Coming Leadership Crisis
3:1 Look, the sovereign
is about to remove from Jerusalem2 and Judah
every source of security, including3
all the food and water,4
3:2 the mighty men and warriors,
judges and prophets,
omen readers and leaders,5
3:3 captains of groups of fifty,
the respected citizens,6
advisers and those skilled in magical arts,7
and those who know incantations.
3:4 The
malicious young men9 will rule over them.
3:5 The people will treat each other harshly;
men will oppose each other;
neighbors will fight.10
Youths will proudly defy the elderly
and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.11
3:6 Indeed, a man will grab his brother
right in his father’s house12 and say,13
‘You own a coat –
you be our leader!
This heap of ruins will be under your control.’14
3:7 At that time15 the brother will shout,16
‘I am no doctor,17
I have no food or coat in my house;
don’t make me a leader of the people!’”
3:8 Jerusalem certainly stumbles,
Judah falls,
for their words and their actions offend the
they rebel against his royal authority.19
3:9 The look on their faces20 testifies to their guilt;21
like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin.22
Too bad for them!23
For they bring disaster on themselves.
3:10 Tell the innocent24 it will go well with them,25
for they will be rewarded for what they have done.26
3:11 Too bad for the wicked sinners!
For they will get exactly what they deserve.27
3:12 Oppressors treat my28 people cruelly;
creditors rule over them.29
My people’s leaders mislead them;
they give you confusing directions.30
3:13 The
he stands up to pass sentence on his people.31
3:14 The
on the leaders of his people and their officials.
He says,32 “It is you33 who have ruined34 the vineyard!35
You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.36
3:15 Why do you crush my people
and grind the faces of the poor?”37
The sovereign
Washing Away Impurity
“The women39 of Zion are proud.
They walk with their heads high40
and flirt with their eyes.
They skip along41
and the jewelry on their ankles jingles.42
3:17 So43 the sovereign master44 will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women45 with skin diseases,46
the
3:1848 At that time49 the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry,50 neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, 3:19 earrings, bracelets, veils, 3:20 headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets,51 amulets, 3:21 rings, nose rings, 3:22 festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses, 3:23 garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns.52
3:24 A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices,53
a rope will replace a belt,
baldness will replace braided locks of hair,
a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe,
and a prisoner’s brand will replace beauty.
3:25 Your54 men will fall by the sword,
your strong men will die in battle.55
3:26 Her gates will mourn and lament;
deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground.56