Isaiah 3:1-9

The LORD's Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

3¹ For the Lord, the Lord of armies, is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah all their support; their store of bread and of water; ² The strong man and the man of war; the judge and the prophet; the man who has knowledge of secret arts, and the man who is wise because of his years; ³ The captain of fifty, and the man of high position, and the wise guide, and the wonder-worker, and he who makes use of secret powers. ⁴ And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them. ⁵ And the people will be crushed, every one by his neighbour; the young will be full of pride against the old, and those of low position will be lifted up against the noble. ⁶ When one man puts his hand on another in his father's house, and says, You have clothing, be our ruler and be responsible for us in our sad condition: ⁷ Then he will say with an oath, I will not be a helper, for in my house there is no bread or clothing: I will not let you make me a ruler of the people. ⁸ For Jerusalem has become feeble, and destruction has come on Judah, because their words and their acts are against the Lord, moving the eyes of his glory to wrath.

⁹ Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them; and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full.