Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 24

1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

*Look, the Lord is causing the land to be empty and desolate, turning it upside down, and scattering its people.

2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, 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 taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

*Just like how it is for people, it will be the same for priests. It will also be the same for servants and their masters, maids and their mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, and those who take too much interest and those who give it.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

*The land will be completely empty and ruined, because the Lord has said so.

4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

*The Earth is sad and weakens, the world grows tired and weakens, proud people on Earth also grow weary.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

*The Earth is unclean due to its people; they've disobeyed laws, altered rules, and broke the eternal agreement.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

*So, the curse has caused the Earth to suffer, and those living on it feel empty. The people on Earth are in trouble, and many have been destroyed; only a few people remain.

7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

*The new wine is sad, the vine is weak, and all those who are happy feel sorrowful.

8 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.

*The laughter from drum-like instruments stops, the excitement of those celebrating ends, and the happiness from the harp also stops.

9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

*They won't drink alcohol while singing; for those who do, it will taste bad.

10 The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

*The confused city has fallen apart: all homes are closed, so nobody can enter.

11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.

*People are asking for wine in the streets. Everyone's happiness is lost, and the fun in the area has disappeared.

12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

*The city is empty and sad, and its door is broken from damage.

13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

*When this happens in the middle of the land among the people, it will be like shaking an olive tree and gathering leftover grapes after the harvest.

14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

*They will shout, they will sing about God's greatness, they will loudly call out from the ocean.

15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

*So praise the LORD in the fires, and honor his name, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.

16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

*We've heard songs from far away, praising righteous people. But I cried, "I'm so weak!" Treacherous people have been untrustworthy; they've done many untrustworthy things.

17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

*Fear, a deep hole, and a trap are all around you, Earth-dweller.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

*Then, the one running away from scary noises will fall into a trap. The person who escapes that trap will get caught in another one. This is happening because the sky's windows are open and the ground is shaking.

19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

*The Earth is severely damaged, it's completely falling apart, and it's shaking greatly.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

*The earth will wobble like a drunk person and be moved like a small house; its sin will be great, and it will fall and won't get up again.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

*In that day, the LORD will punish the powerful rulers in heaven and the kings on earth.

22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

*They will all come together like prisoners in a pit, then be locked in a jail, and only after many days will they be checked on.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

*Then the moon will be confused, and the sun embarrassed, when the powerful LORD rules in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, and in front of his important people, he will shine brightly.

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