Isaiah 24:1-11 ▼

1 Behold, Yahweh empties the earth to destruction, eviscerates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

2 And the people will be like the priest, the male slave like his master, the female slave like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor.

3 The earth will be completely emptied to destruction and completely plundered, for Yahweh has spoken this word.

4 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the exalted of the people of the earth languish.

5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they trespassed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who inhabit it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men remain.

7 The new wine mourns; The vine languishes; All the glad of heart sigh.

8 The joy of tambourines ceases; The rumbling of those exulting stops; The joy of the harp ceases.

9 They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

10 The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter.

11 There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All gladness turns to gloom. The joy of the earth is taken away into exile.