Isaiah

1Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

2It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.

3The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for the LORD has spoken this word.

4The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

5The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

6Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

7The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.

8The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.

9They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

10The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

11There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.

12The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.

13For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

14These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of the LORD. They cry aloud from the sea.

15Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!

16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

17Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.

18It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

19The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.

20The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.

21It will happen in that day that the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

22They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; and after many days they will be visited.

23Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.

God’s Judgment on the Earth

1Behold, the LORD lays waste the earthand leaves it in ruins.He will twist its surfaceand scatter its inhabitants—

2people and priest alike, servant and master,maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.

3The earth will be utterly laid wasteand thoroughly plundered.For the LORD has spoken this word.

4The earth mourns and withers;the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away.

5The earth is defiled by its people;they have transgressed the laws;they have overstepped the decreesand broken the everlasting covenant.

6Therefore a curse has consumed the earth,and its inhabitants must bear the guilt;the earth’s dwellers have been burned,and only a few survive.

7The new wine dries up, the vine withers.All the merrymakers now groan.

8The joyful tambourines have ceased;the noise of revelers has stopped; the joyful harp is silent.

9They no longer sing and drink wine;strong drink is bitter to those who consume it.

10The city of chaos is shattered;every house is closed to entry.

11In the streets they cry out for wine.All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land.

12The city is left in ruins;its gate is reduced to rubble.

13So will it be on the earthand among the nations,like a harvested olive tree,like a gleaning after a grape harvest.

14They raise their voices, they shout for joy;from the westthey proclaim the majesty of the LORD.

15Therefore glorify the LORD in the east.Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islandsof the sea.

16From the ends of the earth we hear singing:“Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away!Woe is me.”The treacherous betray;the treacherous deal in treachery.

17Terror and pit and snare await you,O dweller of the earth.

18Whoever flees the sound of panicwill fall into the pit,and whoever climbs from the pitwill be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are open,and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

19The earth is utterly broken apart,the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently.

20The earth staggers like a drunkardand sways like a shack.Earth’s rebellion weighs it down,and it falls, never to rise again.

21In that day the LORD will punishthe host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.

22They will be gathered togetherlike prisoners in a pit.They will be confined to a dungeonand punished after many days.

23The moon will be confoundedand the sun will be ashamed;for the LORD of Hosts will reignon Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.