Isaiah 3

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.

5 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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.

10 Ref Happy is the upright man! for he will have joy of the fruit of his ways.

11 Ref Unhappy is the sinner! for the reward of his evil doings will come on him.

12 Ref As for my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way.

13 Ref The Lord is ready to take up his cause against his people, and is about to come forward as their judge.

14 Ref The Lord comes to be the judge of their responsible men and of their rulers: it is you who have made waste the vine-garden, and in your houses is the property of the poor which you have taken by force.

15 Ref By what right are you crushing my people, and putting a bitter yoke on the necks of the poor? This is the word of the Lord, the Lord of armies.

16 Ref Again, the Lord has said, Because the daughters of Zion are full of pride, and go with outstretched necks and wandering eyes, with their foot-chains sounding when they go:

17 Ref The Lord will send disease on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will let their secret parts be seen.

18 Ref In that day the Lord will take away the glory of their foot-rings, and their sun-jewels, and their moon-ornaments,

19 Ref The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing,

20 Ref The head-bands, and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the jewels with secret powers,

21 Ref The rings, and the nose-jewels,

22 The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,

23 Ref The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils.

24 Ref And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.

25 Ref Your men will be put to the sword, and your men of war will come to destruction in the fight.

26 Ref And in the public places of her towns will be sorrow and weeping; and she will be seated on the earth, waste and uncovered.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;

2 Ref the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder;

3 Ref the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the expert artificer, and the skilful enchanter.

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

5 Ref And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.

6 Ref When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, `saying', Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand;

7 Ref in that day shall he lift up `his voice', saying, I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: ye shall not make me ruler of the people.

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

9 Ref The show 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 done evil unto themselves.

10 Ref Say ye of the righteous, that `it shall be' well `with him'; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11 Ref Woe unto the wicked! `it shall be' ill `with him'; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him.

12 Ref As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

13 Ref Jehovah standeth up to contend, and standeth to judge the peoples.

14 Ref Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses:

15 Ref what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.

16 Ref Moreover Jehovah said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet;

17 Ref therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will lay bare their secret parts.

18 Ref In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, and the cauls, and the crescents;

19 Ref the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers;

20 Ref the headtires, and the ankle chains, and the sashes, and the perfume-boxes, and the amulets;

21 Ref the rings, and the nose-jewels;

22 the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;

23 Ref the hand-mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.

24 Ref And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle, a rope; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.

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

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

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, The whole supply of bread, And the whole supply of water;

2 Ref The mighty man, The man of war, The judge, The prophet, The diviner, The elder,

3 Ref The captain of fifty, The honorable man, The counselor, The skilled craftsman, And the clever enchanter.

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

5 Ref The people will be oppressed, Everyone by another, And everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, And the base against the honorable.

6 Ref Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, "You have clothing, you be our ruler, And let this ruin be under your hand."

7 Ref In that day he will cry out, saying, I will not be a healer; For in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.

8 Ref For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; Because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, To provoke the eyes of his glory.

9 Ref The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don't hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.

10 Ref Tell the righteous "Good!" For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

11 Ref Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; For the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.

12 Ref As for my people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.

13 Ref Yahweh stands up to contend, And stands to judge the peoples.

14 Ref Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, And their leaders: "It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15 Ref What do you mean that you crush my people, And grind the face of the poor?" says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts.

16 Ref Moreover Yahweh said, "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, And walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, Walking to trip as they go, Jingling ornaments on their feet;

17 Ref Therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, And Yahweh will make their scalps bald."

18 Ref In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,

19 Ref the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,

20 Ref the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,

21 Ref the signet rings, the nose rings,

22 the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,

23 Ref the hand-mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

24 Ref It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well set hair, baldness; Instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

25 Ref Your men shall fall by the sword, And your mighty in the war.

26 Ref Her gates shall lament and mourn; And she shall be desolate and sit on the ground.

Chapter 3 of 66

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