The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 24 A prediction of the punishment of the Israelites, and its good effect. The promise of deliverance and the ruin of their enemies. A Song of Praise for God's Mercy

 The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 24

A prediction of the punishment of the Israelites, and its good effect. The promise of deliverance and the ruin of their enemies.

A Song of Praise for God's Mercy

1 Behold, the Lord empties the land and makes it desolate, and turns its face upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

2 And whatever befalls the people befalls the priest; the servant as against his master, the maid as against her mistress; the buyer as against the seller; the lender as against the borrower; the one who gives usury as against the one who pays usury.

3 The land will be utterly emptied and utterly plundered, for the Lord has spoken this word.

4 The land mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the noblest of the people of the land languish.

5 Surely the land is defiled because of its inhabitants; because they transgress the laws, change the statutes, and break the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore the curse devours the land, and those who dwell in it are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the land are burned, and few men are left.

7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, and all the merry-hearted sigh.

8 The mirth of tambourines has ceased, the noise of those who rejoice has ceased, and the joy of the harp has ceased.

9 They will not drink wine with songs; strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

10 The empty city is broken down, all the houses are shut up, no one can enter.

11 There is a mournful cry in the streets because of the wine; all mirth is darkened, joy is banished from the land.

12 Only desolation is left in the city, and the gate is broken down with a crash. 

13 For it will be in the heart of the land, among these peoples, like the shaking of an olive tree, like the grapevine when the vintage is finished.

14 They will raise their voice and sing with joy; for the glory of the Lord they will shout from the sea.

15 Therefore glorify the Lord in the valleys, and in the isles of the sea, even the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing. Glory to the Righteous One, but I say, "I am growing thin, I am growing thin! Woe is me! The treacherous deal treacherously; yes, the treacherous deal treacherously."

17 Fear, the pit, and the snare are upon you, O inhabitants of the land.

18 And it will come to pass that whoever flees from the sound of fear will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught by the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. 

19 The earth will be utterly broken, the earth will be utterly rent, and the earth will shake.

20 The earth will stagger like a drunkard, and be tossed and moved like a hut in the night; and its transgression will be heavy upon it, and it will fall, never to rise again.

21 And it will come to pass in that day that the Lord will punish the armies of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they will be gathered together like prisoners in a dungeon, and they will be visited after many days.

23 And the moon will be ashamed, and the sun will be ashamed, when the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and then there will be glory before his elders.