Isaiah 24:1-9 ▼

1 Now the LORD is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.

3 The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the LORD has spoken this word.

4 The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth.

5 The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left.

7 The wine dries up, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.

8 The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled.

9 No longer do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.