Isaiah 24

¹Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

²It will 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 creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.

³The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for the LORD has spoken this word.

⁴The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

⁵The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

⁶Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

⁷The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.

⁸The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.

⁹They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

¹⁰The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

¹¹There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.

¹²The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.