Isaiah 3:16-24

New International Reader's Version

¹⁶The Lord continues,
    “The women in Zion are very proud.
They walk along with their noses in the air.
    They tease men with their eyes.
They sway their hips as they walk along.
    Little chains jingle on their ankles.
¹⁷So I will put sores on the heads of Zion’s women.
    And I will remove the hair from their heads.”

¹⁸At that time the Lord will take away the beautiful things they wear. He will take away their decorations, headbands and moon-shaped necklaces. ¹⁹He’ll take away their earrings, bracelets and veils. ²⁰He’ll remove their headdresses, anklets and belts. He’ll take away their perfume bottles and charms. ²¹He’ll remove the rings they wear on their fingers and in their noses. ²²He’ll take away their fine robes and their capes and coats. He’ll take away their purses ²³and mirrors. And he’ll take away their linen clothes, turbans and shawls.

²⁴Instead of smelling sweet,
    the women will smell bad.
Instead of wearing belts,
    they will wear ropes.
Instead of having beautiful hair,
    they won’t have any hair at all.
Instead of wearing fine clothes,
    they’ll wear rough clothes to show how sad they are.
Instead of being beautiful,
    on their bodies they’ll have the marks of their owners.