For (A)Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,
Because their [a](B)speech and their actions are against the Lord,
To (C)rebel against [b]His glorious presence.
[c]The expression of their faces testifies against them,
And they [d]display their sin like (D)Sodom;
They do not even conceal it.
Woe to [e]them!
For they have (E)done evil to themselves.
10 Say to the (F)righteous that it will go well for them,
For they will eat the fruit of their actions.
11 Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him,
For [f](G)what he deserves will be done to him.
12 My people! Their oppressors (H)treat them violently,
And women rule over them.
My people! (I)Those who guide you lead you astray
And confuse the direction of your paths.

God Will Judge

13 (J)The Lord arises to contend,
And stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord (K)enters into judgment with the elders and leaders of His people,
“It is you who have [g](L)devoured the vineyard;
The (M)goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.
15 What do you mean by (N)crushing My people
And [h]oppressing the face of the poor?”
Declares the Lord [i]God of armies.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 3:8 Lit tongue
  2. Isaiah 3:8 Lit the eyes of His glory
  3. Isaiah 3:9 Or Their partiality testifies
  4. Isaiah 3:9 Lit proclaim
  5. Isaiah 3:9 Lit their soul
  6. Isaiah 3:11 Lit the accomplishment of his hands
  7. Isaiah 3:14 Lit grazed over
  8. Isaiah 3:15 Lit grinding the face of
  9. Isaiah 3:15 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord

For Jerusalem will stumble,
    and Judah will fall,
because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey him.
    They provoke him to his face.
The very look on their faces gives them away.
    They display their sin like the people of Sodom
    and don’t even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
    They have brought destruction upon themselves.

10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
    They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11 But the wicked are doomed,
    for they will get exactly what they deserve.

12 Childish leaders oppress my people,
    and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
    they send you down the wrong road.

13 The Lord takes his place in court
    and presents his case against his people.[a]
14 The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment
    on the elders and rulers of his people:
“You have ruined Israel, my vineyard.
    Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
15 How dare you crush my people,
    grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?”
    demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:13 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads against the peoples.