Old Testament · Prophets

Isaiah chapter 24

Look — Yahweh is about to strip the earth bare, he is about to devastate it, beyond recognition, and scatter everyone who lives on it.And it will be the same for everyone — the same for the people as for the , the same for the servant as for the master, the same for the maid as for her mistress, the same for the buyer as for the seller, the same for the lender as for the borrower, the same for the creditor as for the debtor.The earth will be , completely plundered — because Yahweh has spoken this word.The earth dries up, it . The world wastes away, it withers. The of the earth waste away.The earth itself is by the people living on it, because they have violated the , twisted the decrees, and broken the .That is why a is devouring the earth, and those who live on it bear the consequences. That is why the inhabitants of the earth are , and only a few people are left.The dries up, the vine withers, and everyone who used to celebrate now groans.The joyful pounding of has stopped. The noise of those celebrating is over. The happy sound of the has stopped.No more drinking wine with singing. turns bitter in the mouths of those who drink it.The is shattered. Every house is shut tight — no one can enter.In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy has grown dark. The happiness of the earth has .What is left of the city is desolation. Its is battered into ruins.This is how it will be across the earth, among all the nations — like an olive tree after the , like the last grapes picked after harvest is over.Those who survive — they lift their voices, they shout for joy. From the west they sing out about Yahweh’s .So in the east, honor Yahweh! In the across the sea, honor the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel!From the edges of the earth we hear songs: “Splendor belongs to the !” But I said, “I’m , I’m wasting away. It’s terrible for me! The ! With treachery the treacherous betray!”Terror, the pit, and the trap are coming for you, inhabitant of the earth!Whoever runs from the sound of terror will fall into the pit. Whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the trap. Because the are opened, and the are shaking.The earth is cracking apart, cracking apart. The earth is splitting open, splitting open. The earth is shaking violently, shaking violently.The earth , it sways like a . Its weighs so heavy on it that it falls and cannot get up again., Yahweh will bring judgment on the above and on the kings of the earth below.They will be gathered together like prisoners thrown into a pit. They will be locked away in a and .Then the moon will be humiliated and the sun will be ashamed, because will reign on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, and his will blaze before the .