Isaiah 24
1 Look! The LORD empties the earth and lays it waste; he distorts its surface and scatters those who live on it.
2 It will be the same for everyone: people and priest alike, servant and master alike, female servant and mistress alike, buyer and seller alike, lender and borrower alike, creditor and debtor alike.
3 The earth will be completely emptied and completely plundered, because the LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest among the people of the earth languish.
5 The earth lies defiled beneath those who live on it, because they have transgressed the instructions, changed the decree, and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse has devoured the earth, and those who live on it have paid for their guilt. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth have been burned, and few people remain.
7 The new wine mourns, the vine withers; all who were glad at heart sigh.
8 The joy of tambourines has ceased; the revelry of those who celebrate is over; the joy of the harp has ceased.
9 They no longer drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The city of chaos lies shattered; every house is shut, so that no one can enter.
11 There is an outcry in the streets because of the wine; all joy has faded, and the earth's gladness is gone.
12 Desolation remains in the city; the gate has been battered into ruins.
13 For this is how it will be in the midst of the earth, among the peoples: as when an olive tree is shaken, as when gleanings remain after the grape harvest is finished.
14 They raise their voices and sing for joy; because of the LORD's majesty, they shout from the sea.
15 Therefore honor the LORD in the lands of the light; in the islands of the sea, honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs: “Glory to the righteous one!” But I said, “I am wasting away, I am wasting away! Woe to me! The traitors betray; with treachery the traitors betray.”
17 Terror, pit, and snare are coming upon you, inhabitant of the earth.
18 Whoever flees the sound of terror will fall into the pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare. For the floodgates above have opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
19 The earth is utterly broken; the earth is split apart; the earth shakes violently.
20 The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a hut; its transgression weighs it down, and it falls and will never rise again.
21 On that day the LORD will punish the army of the heights above and the kings of the earth below.
22 They will be gathered like prisoners in a pit, shut up in prison, and after many days they will be punished.
23 The moon will be ashamed, and the sun will be humiliated, because the LORD of Armies reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; before his elders there is glory.
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