Isaiah 3

¹ Now the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth is about to deprive Jerusalem and Judah of resources and provisions --al reserves of food, al reserves of water-

² of hero, warrior, judge, prophet, diviner, elder,

³ captain, dignitary, counsellor, architect, soothsayer.

⁴ 'I shal give them boys for princes, raw lads to rule over them.'

⁵ People will be il -treated by one another, each by his neighbour; the young wil insult the aged, and thelow, the respected.

⁶ Yes, a man wil catch hold of his brother in their father's house, to say, 'You have a cloak, so you beleader, and rule this heap of ruins.'

⁷ And, that day, the other wil protest, 'I am no healer; in my house there is neither food nor clothing; donot make me leader of the people.'

⁸ For Jerusalem has col apsed and Judah has fallen, because their words and deeds affront Yahweh andinsult his glorious gaze.

⁹ Their complacency bears witness against them, they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not conceal it,al the worse for them, for they have hatched their own downfal .

¹⁰ Say, 'Blessed the upright, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds;

¹¹ woe to the wicked, it wil go il with him, for he will be treated as his actions deserve.'

¹² O my people, their oppressors pil age them and extortioners rule over them! O my people, your rulersmislead you and efface the paths you ought to fol ow!

¹³ Yahweh has risen to accuse, is standing to pass judgement on the people.

¹⁴ Yahweh is about to try the elders and the princes of his people, 'You are the ones who have ravagedthe vineyard, the spoils of the poor are in your houses.

¹⁵ By what right do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?' says the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth.

¹⁶ Yahweh says: Because Zion's daughters are proud and walk with heads held high and enticing eyes --with mincing steps they go, jingling the bangles on their feet-

¹⁷ the Lord will give Zion's daughters scabby heads, Yahweh will lay their foreheads bare.

¹⁸ That day the Lord wil take away the ornamental chains, medallions, crescents,

¹⁹ pendants, bracelets, trinkets,

²⁰ diadems, ankle-chains, necklaces, scent bottles, amulets,

²¹ finger-rings, nose-rings,

²² party dresses, cloaks, scarves, purses,

²³ mirrors, linen clothes, turbans and mantillas.

²⁴ Then, instead of perfume, a stink; instead of belt, a rope, instead of hair elaborately dressed, a shavenscalp, instead of gorgeous clothes, sacking round the waist, and brand marks instead of beauty.

²⁵ Your men wil fal by the sword, your warriors in battle,

²⁶ and her gates wil moan and mourn; she wil sit on the ground, deserted.