Open English Translation ISA Chapter 3

3 Yes, listen, the master, army commander Yahweh will take supply and support

away from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and from Yehudah (Judah)—

all the supply of bread and of water,

2 the top warriors and regular soldiers,

the judges and prophets,

the diviners and elders,

3 the unit captains and respected officials,

the counsellors and expert craftsman,

and any skillful enchanters.

4 “Then I’ll put young people in place as their leaders,

≈ and children will rule over them.

5 After that, the people will be oppressed—

one person fighting another,

and a man being taken advantage of by his neighbour.

The lad will insult the elderly,

and the dishonourable insult the honourable.

6 Indeed, a man will seize his brother in his own father’s house:

‘You have a coat so be our ruler,

and this ruin will be under your control.’

7 That will cause him to shout out,

‘I have no intention of helping. I don’t even have enough food and clothes for my own household.

and in my house there is no bread and there is no clothing.

Don’t try to make me the ruler of the people.’ ”

8 Yes, Yerushalem has stumbled,

and Yehudah has fallen,

because their words and actions are against Yahweh,

defying his royal authority.

9 You can tell their intentions by the look on their faces,

and they talk about their disobedience like the people in Sodom did.

They don’t try to hide it.

Their lives won’t end well because they’ve brought suffering on themselves.

10 Tell those who do what’s right

that they’ll be rewarded for their good deeds.

11 But the wicked won’t end well.

They’ll be repaid appropriately for their actions.

12 Even children will oppress my people,

≈ and women rule over them.

Those who guide you lead my people astray

≈ and confuse your progress to make you follow the wrong path.

13 Yahweh is getting ready to make his case

and is standing ready to judge the peoples.

14 He will come to pronounce judgement on the elders of his people and their leaders:

“Yes, all of you, you’ve taken all the fruit from the vineyard—

the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

15 Why do you crush my people

and rub the poor people’s faces into the ground?”

That’s the declaration of my master, army commander Yahweh.

16 Then Yahweh said:

“Because Tsiyyon’s (Zion’s) daughters are proud,

and they walk with their chins stuck out and with flirting eyes—

walking and mincing their steps and tinkling their feet,

17 Then my master will shave the heads of Tsiyyon’s daughters,

≈ and Yahweh will make their foreheads bald.”

18 At that time my master will remove their fancy ankle bracelets and headbands, crescent necklaces

19 and earrings, bracelets and veils,

20 scarves, armlets, and sashes, perfume bottles and charms,

21 rings on their fingers and in their noses,

22 festive robes and capes, veils and purses,

23 fine clothes and underwear, and their turbans and shawls.

24 When that happens, there’ll be a stink instead of fragrance,

a rope instead of a nice sash,

baldness instead of a styled hairdo,

sackcloth instead of fancy clothes,

brands on the skin instead of beauty,

25 Your men will die from the sword

and your warriors in the battle.

26 The city gates will mourn and wail,

and she’ll end up just sitting their on the ground, alone.