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ISAIAH 4
page 607
22
They will try to escape the terror of the Lord
and the glory of his majesty
as he rises to shake the earth.
Don’t put your trust in mere humans.
They are as frail as breath.
What good are they?
Judgment against Judah
1 The 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,
2 all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,
3 army officers and high officials,
advisers, skilled sorcerers, and
astrologers.
12
Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road.
13
The Lord takes his place in court
and presents his case against his people.*
The 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.
How dare you crush my people,
grinding the faces of the poor into the
dust?”
demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s
Armies.
14
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
I will make boys their leaders,
and toddlers their rulers.
People will oppress each other—
man against man,
neighbor against neighbor.
Young people will insult their elders,
and vulgar people will sneer at the
honorable.
In 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!”
But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!”
For 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.
The 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.
Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have
earned!
But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they
deserve.
3:13 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads against
the peoples. 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. 3:24 As in Dead Sea
Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads robes / because instead of beauty.
4:2 Or the Branch.
15
A Warning to Jerusalem
16 The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion* is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.
17 So the Lord will send scabs on her head;
the Lord will make beautiful Zion bald.”
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
On that day of judgment
the Lord will strip away everything that
makes her beautiful:
ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
earrings, bracelets, and veils;
scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes,
perfumes, and charms;
rings, jewels,
party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
mirrors, fine linen garments,
head ornaments, and shawls.
Instead 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.*
The men of the city will be killed with
the sword,
and her warriors will die in battle.
The gates of Zion will weep and mourn.
The city will be like a ravaged woman,
huddled on the ground.
4
In that day so few men will be left that
seven women will fight for each man, saying, “Let us all marry you! We will provide our
own food and clothing. Only let us take your
name so we won’t be mocked as old maids.”
A Promise of Restoration
2 But in that day, the branch* of the Lord
will be beautiful and glorious;