Isaiah 3:16-4:1

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.
²⁵Jerusalem, your men will be killed by swords.
    Your soldiers will die in battle.
²⁶The city of Zion will be very sad.
    Like a widow, she will lose everything.
    She will sit on the ground and mourn.

4 At that time seven women
    will grab hold of one man.
They’ll say to him, “We will eat our own food.
    We’ll provide our own clothes.
Just let us become your wives.
    Take away our shame!”