Isaiah 3

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.

1Look! The Lord, the God of armies, will take things away from Jerusalem and Judah. He will take away every bit of their food and water. He will take away everything they lean on.

Note"The LORD of hosts" means God who leads armies. It is a name that says he is very strong.

2The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

2He will take away their strong men and their soldiers. He will take away their judges. He will take away their prophets, people who told others what God said. He will also take away the fortune-tellers and the old leaders.

3The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

3He will take away the army captains and the important men. He will take away the advisers, the skilled magicians, and the clever charmers.

4And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

4God says, "I will make young boys their leaders. Children will rule over them."

5And 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.

5People will be cruel to each other. Neighbor will hurt neighbor. Young people will act proud toward old people. People with no honor will push past honored people.

6When 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:

6A man will grab his brother in their father's house. He will say, "You still have a coat. So you be our leader. Take charge of this pile of broken stones."

7In 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.

7That day the brother will shout, "No! I cannot fix this. I have no food or clothes in my own house. Do not make me your leader."

8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

8Jerusalem has stumbled. Judah has fallen. The people said and did things against the LORD. They would not honor him.

9The 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.

9The look on their faces shows what they are like. They show off their sin, the way the city of Sodom did. They do not hide it. Sad news for them. They brought this trouble on themselves.

10Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

10Tell the people who do right that things will go well for them. They will enjoy what their good work brings.

11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

11Sad news for the people who do wrong. Trouble is coming to them. They will get back what they have done.

12As 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.

12Young boys push my people around, and women rule over them. My people, the ones who lead you send you the wrong way. They pull you off your path.

13The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

13The LORD stands up to speak against them. He stands up to judge the people.

14The 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.

14The LORD brings his charge against the old leaders and rulers of his people. He says, "You have eaten up the vineyard. The things you took from poor people are sitting in your houses."

15What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

15"Why do you crush my people? Why do you grind the faces of the poor?" says the Lord GOD, the God of armies.

16Moreover 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:

16The LORD also says, "The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads held high and their eyes looking around. They take little showy steps. The rings on their ankles jingle as they go."

17Therefore 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.

17"So the Lord will put sores on their heads. He will leave their heads bare."

NoteThe old English says God will "discover their secret parts." Here "discover" means uncover. It is about their heads being left bare.

18In 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,

18On that day the Lord will take away their pretty things. He will take their ankle rings, their headbands, and their moon-shaped charms.

19The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

19He will take their hanging earrings, their bracelets, and their veils.

20The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

20He will take their fancy head coverings and their ankle chains. He will take their sashes, their perfume bottles, and their good luck charms.

21The rings, and nose jewels,

21He will take their name rings and their nose rings.

22The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

22He will take their party clothes, their capes, their coats, and their purses.

NoteThe old English calls one item "crisping pins." Those were not hair tools. They were small bags or purses.

23The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

23He will take their mirrors, their fine linen clothes, their pretty crowns, and their shawls.

24And 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.

24Then instead of sweet perfume there will be a bad smell. Instead of a nice belt, a rope. Instead of styled hair, a bald head. Instead of fine clothes, rough scratchy cloth. Instead of beauty, shame.

25Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

25Your men will die by the sword. Your soldiers will die in the battle.

26And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

26The city gates will cry out and be sad. The city will have nothing left. She will sit down on the ground.