Isaiah 24:1-9 ▼

1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, twists its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

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

3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely plundered, for the LORD has spoken this word.

4 The earth dries up and crumbles away, the mainland dries out and crumbles away, the exalted of the people of the earth dwindle.

5 The earth is also defiled by its inhabitants, for they violated laws, altered statutes, and broke the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live on it suffer for their guilt. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth decrease in number, and few people are left.

7 The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the joyful-hearted sigh.

8 The joy of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The joy of the harp ceases.

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