Isaiah 3:1-17 ▼

1 For lo, the Lorde God of hoastes doth take away from Hierusalem and Iuda all maner of stay, all stay of meate and drynke,

2 The captayne and the souldiour, the iudge and the prophete, the prudent and the aged man,

3 The captayne of fiftie & the honorable, the senatour, the cunnyng artificer, and the eloquent oratour.

4 And I shall geue children to be their princes, and babes shall rule ouer them.

5 And the people shall eche one of them violently oppresse another, and euery one agaynst his neyghbour: The boy shall presume agaynst the elder, and the person of lowe degree agaynst the honorable.

6 Yea one shall take a friende of his owne kinrede by the bosome, and say: thou hast clothyng, thou shalt be our head, and stay this ruine with thy hande.

7 Then shall he sweare and say, I can not helpe you: there is neither meate nor clothyng in my house, make me no ruler of the people.

8 For Hierusalem and Iuda must decay: because that both their wordes and counsayles are agaynst the Lorde to prouoke the presence of his maiestie to anger.

9 Their very countenaunce bewrayeth the, yea they declare their owne sinnes themselues as Sodome, they hide it not: Wo be to their owne soules, for they haue rewarded euyll vnto them selues.

10 Say to the ryghteous that it shall go well with them: for they shall eate the fruite of their owne studies.

11 But wo be vnto the wicked, for it shalbe euyll with hym: for he shalbe rewarded after his owne workes.

12 Children are extortioners of my people, and women rule ouer them: O my people, thy leaders deceaue thee, and corrupt the way of thy footsteppes.

13 The Lorde is here to commune of the matter, & standeth to iudge the people.

14 The Lorde shall enter into iudgement with the elders and princes of his people, and shall say to them: It is ye that haue burnt vp my vineyarde, the spoyle of the poore is in your houses.

15 What meane ye that ye bray as in a morter my people, and grinde the faces of the poore? saith the Lorde God of hoastes.

16 Moreouer the Lord hath said, seing the daughters of Sion are waxen proude, & walke with stretched foorth neckes, and wanton lokes, goyng and trippyng nicely, and tinckelyng with their feete:

17 Therfore shall the Lorde shaue the heades of the daughters of Sion, and shall discouer their filthinesse.