Isaiah 24

1Behold, Yahweh empties the earth and lays it waste, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

2It will be the same for folk as for the priest, for the servant as for his master, for the bondwoman as for her mistress, for the buyer as for the seller, for the lender as for the borrower, for the creditor as for his debtor.

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

4The earth mourns and withers, the world languishes and withers, the haughty people of the earth languish.

5The earth is polluted by its inhabitants, because they have violated the laws, altered the decree, and broken the eternal covenant.

6Therefore the curse consumes the earth, and those dwelling in it are guilty; therefore those dwelling in the earth burn up, and few humans remain.

7The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all joyful hearts sigh.

8The merriment of tambourines has ceased, the uproar of the exultant has ended, the joy of the harp has ceased.

9With song they will not drink wine; strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

10The city of confusion lies broken. Every house is shut so no one can enter.

11A cry over wine fills the streets; all joy has darkened, the land's mirth has departed.

12Desolation remains in the city, and the gate lies crushed in destruction.

13For thus it will be amid the earth, in the midst of the peoples, like the shaking of an olive tree, like the gleanings when the vintage is finished.

14They will raise their voices, shout joyfully for Yahweh's majesty, and cry out from the sea.

15Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.

16From the ends of the earth we have heard songs, glory to the righteous! But I said, "I waste away! I waste away! Woe to me! Traitors have betrayed; with betrayal traitors have betrayed."

17Dread, pit, and snare are upon you, dweller of the earth.

18The one fleeing from the sound of terror will fall into the pit, and the one climbing from the midst of the pit will be caught in the snare; for windows on high have opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

19The earth shatters utterly. The earth ruptures completely. The earth totters violently.

20The earth will stagger like a drunkard and sway like a hut; its transgression will lie heavy upon it, and it will fall and rise no more.

21On that day Yahweh will punish the host of the heights on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

22They will be gathered like prisoners into the pit and locked in prison, and after many days they will be visited.

23The moon will be ashamed, and the sun put to shame, for Yahweh of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders glory.