Isaiah 3
The LORD declares He will remove from Jerusalem every supply and stay -- the mighty man, the judge, the prophet, and the elder. Children will rule over them and the people will oppress one another. The daughters of Zion are warned that their finery will be replaced with sackcloth and shame.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, | The Lord, the LORD of hosts, is removing from Jerusalem and from Judah all support — the entire supply of bread and the entire supply of water — |
| 2 | The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, | the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, and the elder, |
| 3 | The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. | the captain of fifty, the man of rank, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the eloquent speaker. |
| 4 | And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. | "I will give them children as their princes, and infants shall rule over them. |
| 5 | And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. | The people shall oppress one another — each man his neighbor. The young shall act arrogantly against the elder, and the lowly against the honorable." |
| 6 | When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: | When a man grabs his brother in his father's house and says, "You have a coat — you be our ruler! Let this ruin be under your hand," |
| 7 | In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. | in that day he will protest: "I will not be a healer. In my house there is neither bread nor coat. Do not make me ruler of the people." |
| 8 | For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. | Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, provoking His glorious presence. |
| 9 | The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. | The look on their faces testifies against them. They declare their sin like Sodom and do not hide it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster on themselves! |
| 10 | Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. | Tell the righteous that it will go well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. |
| 11 | Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. | Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for them, for what their hands have done will be done to them. |
| 12 | As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. | As for My people, children oppress them, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides lead you astray and confuse the direction of your paths. |
| 13 | The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. | The LORD rises to argue His case; He stands to judge the peoples. |
| 14 | The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. | The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people: "You have devoured the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in Your houses. |
| 15 | What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. | What do You mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts. |
| 16 | Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: | The LORD also says: "Because the daughters of Zion are proud and walk with their necks stretched out and their eyes flirting, strutting and mincing as they go, with jingling ornaments on their feet, |
| 17 | Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. | therefore the Lord will strike the scalp of the daughters of Zion with sores, and the LORD will lay their foreheads bare." |
| 18 | In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, | In that day the Lord will take away the finery of their ankle chains, their headbands, and their crescent necklaces, |
| 19 | The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, | the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils, |
| 20 | The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, | the headdresses, the leg ornaments, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets, |
| 21 | The rings, and nose jewels, | the rings and the nose jewels, |
| 22 | The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, | the fine robes, the cloaks, the shawls, and the handbags, |
| 23 | The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. | the mirrors, the fine linen garments, the turbans, and the long veils. |
| 24 | And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. | Instead of sweet perfume there will be a stench. Instead of a sash, a rope. Instead of styled hair, baldness. Instead of a rich robe, a garment of sackcloth. And a brand instead of beauty. |
| 25 | Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. | Your men shall fall by the sword and Your warriors in battle. |
| 26 | And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. | Her gates shall mourn and grieve, and she shall sit desolate on the ground. |