Isaiah 24

Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a
Vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and
Scatters the people: priests and laypeople, servants and
Masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and
Borrowers, bankers and debtors. None will be spared. The earth
Will be completely emptied and looted. The Lord has spoken

The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers
Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers
For the sins of its people, for they have twisted God's instructions
Violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore
A curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for
Their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left

Alive. The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine
All the merrymakers sigh and mourn. The cheerful sound of
Tambourines is stilled. The happy cries of celebration are heard
No more. The melodious chords of the harp are silent. Gone are the
Joys of wine and song. Alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth

The city writhes in chaos. Every home is locked to keep out intruders
Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has turned
To gloom. Gladness has been banished from the land. The city is
Left in ruins, its gates battered down. Throughout the earth, the
Story is the same: Only a remnant is left, like the stray olives
Left on the tree, or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest

But all who are left shout and sing for joy. Those in the west
Praise the Lord's majesty. In eastern lands, give glory to
The Lord. In the land beyond the sea, praise the name of the
Lord, the God of Israel. We hear songs of praise from the
Ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One

But my heart is heavy with grief. Weep for me, for I wither away
Deceit still prevails, and treachery is everywhere. Terror and
Traps and snares will be your lot, you people of the earth. Those
Who flee in terror will fall into a trap, and those who escape the
Trap will be caught in a snare. Destruction falls like rain from

The heavens. The foundations of the earth shake. The earth has broken
Up; it has utterly collapsed; it is violently shaken. The earth
Staggers like a drunk. It trembles like a tent in a storm. It falls
And will not rise again, for the
Guilt of its rebellion is very heavy

In that day, the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens and
The proud rulers of the nations on earth. They will be rounded
Up and put in prison. They will be shut up in prison and will
Finally be punished. Then the glory of the moon will wane
And the brightness of the sun will fade, for the Lord of Heaven'
S Armies will rule on Mount Zion. He will rule in great glory
In Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people