Isaiah 24:1-9 ▼

1 See! The LORD is about to empty the earth and lay it waste; he will twist its surface, and scatter its inhabitants:

2 People and priest shall fare alike: servant and master, Maid and mistress, buyer and seller, Lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.

3 The earth shall be utterly laid waste, utterly stripped, for the LORD has decreed this word.

4 The earth mourns and fades, the world languishes and fades; both heaven and earth languish.

5 The earth is polluted because of its inhabitants, for they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, broken the ancient covenant.

6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants pay for their guilt; Therefore they who dwell on earth have dwindled, and only a few are left.

7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted groan.

8 Stilled are the cheerful timbrels, ended the shouts of the jubilant, stilled the cheerful harp.

9 They no longer drink wine and sing; strong brew is bitter to those who drink it.