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Isaiah 3
Anarchy in Jerusalem
1 Yes, see how the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth is taking from Jerusalem and Judah support of every kind (support of bread and support of water):
2 hero, man-at-arms, judge, prophet, diviner, elder,
3 captain, noble, counsellor, sorcerer, soothsayer.
4 ‘I give them boys for princes, raw lads to rule over them.’
5 The people bully each other, neighbour and neighbour; a youth can insult his elder, a lout abuse a noble,
6 so that everyone tries to catch his brother in their father’s house, to say, ‘You have a cloak, so you be leader, and rule this heap of ruins’.
7 When that day comes the other will protest, ‘I am no doctor, in my house is neither bread nor cloak; do not make me leader of the people’.
8 Yes, Jerusalem is falling into ruins and Judah is in collapse, since their words and their deeds affront the Lord, insulting his glory.
9 Their insolent airs bear witness against them, they parade their sin like Sodom. To their own undoing, they do not hide it, they are preparing their own downfall.
10 Tell them, ‘Happy is the virtuous man, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds;
11 woe to the wicked, evil is on him, he will be treated as his actions deserve’.
12 O my people, oppressed by a lad, ruled by women.[*a] O my people, your rulers mislead you and destroy the road you walk on.
13 Yahweh rises from his judgement seat, he stands up to arraign his people.
14 Yahweh calls to judgement the elders and the princes of his people: ‘You are the ones who destroy the vineyard and conceal what you have stolen from the poor.
15 By what right do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?’ It is the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth who speaks.
A warning to the women of Jerusalem
16 Yahweh said: Because of the haughtiness of the daughters of Zion, the way they walk with their heads held high and enticing eyes, the way they mince along, tinkling the bangles on their feet,
17 the Lord will give the daughters of Zion itching heads and uncover their nakedness.
18 That day the Lord will take away the ankle ornaments, tiaras, pendants
19 and bracelets, the veils,
20 headbands, foot chains and belts, the scent bottles and amulets,
21 signet rings and nose rings,
22 the expensive dresses, mantles, cloaks and purses,
23 the mirrors, linen garments; turbans and mantillas.
24 Instead of scent, a stink; instead of belt, a rope; instead of hair elaborately done, a shaven scalp, and instead of gorgeous dress, a sack; and brand marks instead of beauty.
The widows of Jerusalem
25 Your men will fall by the sword, your heroes in the fight.
26 The gates will moan and mourn; you will sit on the ground desolate.