Isaiah Chapter 24

1 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

2 Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

3 My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.

4 They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

5 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth:

6 and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.

7 And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;

8 and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.

9 O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

10 The burden of Dumah.

11 One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.

13 The burden upon Arabia.

14 In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

15 Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.

16 For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

17 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

18 and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.

19 The burden of the valley of vision.

20 What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

21 O thou that art full of shoutings, a tumultuous city, a joyous town; thy slain are not slain with the sword, neither are they dead in battle.

22 All thy rulers fled away together, they were bound by the archers; all that were found of thee were bound together; they fled afar off.

23 Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Behold, Jehovah maketh the land empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad its inhabitants.

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 him from whom usury is taken.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.

4 The land mourneth, it fadeth away; the world languisheth, it fadeth away: the haughty people of the land do languish.

5 And the land is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; for they have violated the laws, changed the statute, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore doth the curse devour the earth, and they that dwell therein are held guilty; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are consumed, and few men are left.

7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all that were merry-hearted do sigh;

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

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

10 The city of solitude is broken down; every house is shut up, so that none entereth in.

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

12 desolation remaineth in the city, and the gate is smitten, — a ruin.

13 For so will it be in the midst of the land among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the grape-gleanings when the vintage is done.

14 These shall lift up their voice, they shall shout for the majesty of Jehovah, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

15 Therefore glorify Jehovah in the east, the name of Jehovah, theGod of Israel, in the isles of the west.

16 From the end of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous! And I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! The treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

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

18 And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the sound 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 on high are open, and the foundations of the earth shake.

19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is completely dissolved, the earth is violently moved.

20 The earth reeleth to and fro like a drunkard, and is shaken like a night hut; and its transgression is heavy upon it; and it falleth and shall not rise again.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they shall be brought together, [as] an assemblage of prisoners for the pit, and shall be shut up in prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

23 And the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts shall reign on mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients in glory.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 Behold, the Lord is about to lay waste the world, and will make it desolate, and will lay bare the surface of it, and scatter them that dwell therein.

2 And the people shall be as the priest, and the servant as the lord, and the maid as the mistress; the buyer shall be as the seller, the lender as the borrower, and the debtor as his creditor.

3 The earth shall be completely laid waste, and the earth shall be utterly spoiled: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things.

4 The earth mourns, and the world is ruined, the lofty ones of the earth are mourning.

5 And she has sinned by reason of her inhabitants; because they have transgressed the law, and changed the ordinances, [even] the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore a curse shall consume the earth, because the inhabitants thereof have sinned: therefore the dwellers in the earth shall be poor, and few men shall be left.

7 The wine shall mourn, the vine shall mourn, all the merry-hearted shall sigh.

8 The mirth of timbrels has ceased, the sound of the harp has ceased.

9 They are ashamed, they have not drunk wine; strong drink has become bitter to them that drink [it].

10 All the city has become desolate: one shall shut his house so that none shall enter.

11 There is a howling for the wine everywhere; all the mirth of the land has ceased, all the mirth of the land has departed.

12 And cities shall be left desolate, and houses being left shall fall to ruin.

13 All this shall be in the land in the midst of the nations, as if one should strip an olive tree, so shall they strip them; but when the vintage is done,

14 these shall cry aloud; and they that are left on the land shall rejoice together in the glory of the Lord: the water of the sea shall be troubled.

15 Therefore shall the glory of the Lord be in the isles of the sea; the name of the Lord shall be glorious.

16 O Lord God of Israel, from the ends of the earth we have heard wonderful things, [and there is] hope to the godly: but they shall say, Woe to the despisers, that despise the law.

17 Fear, and a pit, and a snare, are upon you that dwell on the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, [that] he that flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that comes up out of the pit shall be caught by the snare: for windows have been opened in heaven, and the foundations of the earth shall be shaken,

19 the earth shall be utterly confounded, and the earth shall be completely perplexed.

20 It reels as a drunkard and one oppressed with wine, and the earth shall be shaken as a storehouse of fruits; for iniquity has prevailed upon it, and it shall fall, and shall not be able to rise.

21 And God shall bring [his] hand upon the host of heaven, and upon the kings of the earth.

22 And they shall gather the multitude thereof into prisons, and they shall shut them into a strong hold: after many generations they shall be visited.

23 And the brick shall decay, and the wall shall fall; for the Lord shall reign from out of Sion, and out of Jerusalem, and shall be glorified before [his] elders.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Ecce Dominus dissipabit terram, et nudabit eam, et affliget faciem eius, et disperget habitatores eius.

2 Et erit sicut populus, sic sacerdos: et sicut servus, sic dominus eius: sicut ancilla, sic domina eius: sicut emens, sic ille qui vendit: sicut fœnerator, sic is qui mutuum accipit: sicut qui repetit, sic qui debet.

3 Dissipatione dissipabitur terra, et direptione prædabitur. Dominus enim locutus est verbum hoc.

4 Luxit, et defluxit terra, et infirmata est: defluxit orbis, infirmata est altitudo populi terræ.

5 Et terra infecta est ab habitatoribus suis: quia transgressi sunt leges, mutaverunt ius, dissipaverunt fœdus sempiternum.

6 Propter hoc maledictio vorabit terram, et peccabunt habitatores eius: ideoque insanient cultores eius, et relinquentur homines pauci.

7 Luxit vindemia, infirmata est vitis, ingemuerunt omnes qui lætabantur corde.

8 Cessavit gaudium tympanorum, quievit sonitus lætantium, conticuit dulcedo citharæ.

9 Cum cantico non bibent vinum: amara erit potio bibentibus illam.

10 Attrita est civitas vanitatis, clausa est omnis domus nullo introeunte.

11 Clamor erit super vino in plateis: deserta est omnia lætitia: translatum est gaudium terræ.

12 Relicta est in urbe solitudo, et calamitas opprimet portas.

13 Quia hæc erunt in medio terræ, in medio populorum: quomodo si paucæ olivæ, quæ remanserunt, excutiantur ex olea: et racemi, cum fuerit finita vindemia.

14 Hi levabunt vocem suam, atque laudabunt: cum glorificatus fuerit Dominus, hinnient de mari.

15 Propter hoc in doctrinis glorificate Dominum: in insulis maris nomen Domini Dei Israel.

16 A finibus terræ laudes audivimus, gloriam iusti. Et dixi: Secretum meum mihi, secretum meum mihi, væ mihi: prævaricantes prævaricati sunt, et prævaricatione transgressorum prævaricati sunt.

17 Formido, et fovea, et laqueus super te, qui habitator es terræ.

18 Et erit: Qui fugerit a voce formidinis, cadet in foveam: et qui se explicaverit de fovea, tenebitur laqueo: quia cataractæ de excelsis apertæ sunt, et concutientur fundamenta terræ.

19 Confractione confringetur terra, contritione conteretur terra, commotione commovebitur terra,

20 agitatione agitabitur terra sicut ebrius, et auferetur quasi tabernaculum unius noctis: et gravabit eam iniquitas sua, et corruet, et non adiiciet ut resurgat.

21 Et erit: In die illa visitabit Dominus super militiam cæli in excelso: et super reges terræ, qui sunt super terram.

22 Et congregabuntur in congregatione unius fascis in lacum, et claudentur ibi in carcere: et post multos dies visitabuntur.

23 Et erubescet luna, et confundetur sol, cum regnaverit Dominus exercituum in monte Sion, et in Ierusalem, et in conspectu senum suorum fuerit glorificatus.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

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

2 It 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.

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

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

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

6 Therefore 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

13 For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

14 These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of the LORD. They cry aloud from the sea.

15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!

16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

17 Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.

18 It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

19 The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.

20 The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.

21 It will happen in that day that the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

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

23 Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 Lo, Jehovah is emptying the land, And is making it waste, And hath overturned <FI>it on<Fi> its face, And hath scattered its inhabitants.

2 And it hath been--as a people so a priest, As the servant so his master, As the maid-servant so her mistress, As the buyer so the seller, As the lender so the borrower, As the usurer so he who is lifting <FI>it<Fi> on himself.

3 Utterly emptied is the land, and utterly spoiled, For Jehovah hath spoken this word:

4 Mourned, faded hath the land, Languished, faded hath the world, Languished have they--the high place of the people of the land.

5 And the land hath been defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed laws, They have changed a statute, They have made void a covenant age-during.

6 Therefore a curse hath consumed the land, And the inhabitants in it are become desolate, Therefore consumed have been inhabitants of the land, And few men have been left.

7 Mourned hath the new wine, languished the vine, Sighed have all the joyful of heart.

8 Ceased hath the joy of tabrets, Ceased hath the noise of exulting ones, Ceased hath the joy of a harp.

9 With a song they drink not wine, Bitter is strong drink to those drinking it.

10 It was broken down--a city of emptiness, Shut hath been every house from entrance.

11 A cry over the wine <FI>is<Fi> in out-places, Darkened hath been all joy, Removed hath been the joy of the land.

12 Left in the city <FI>is<Fi> desolation, And <FI>with<Fi> wasting is the gate smitten.

13 When thus it is in the heart of the land, In the midst of the peoples, As the compassing of the olive, As gleanings when harvest hath been finished,

14 They--they lift up their voice, They sing of the excellency of Jehovah, They have cried aloud from the sea.

15 Therefore in prosperity honour ye Jehovah, In isles of the sea, the name of Jehovah, God of Israel.

16 From the skirt of the earth we heard songs, The desire of the righteous. And I say, `Leanness <FI>is<Fi> to me, Leanness <FI>is<Fi> to me, woe <FI>is<Fi> to me.' Treacherous dealers dealt treacherously, Yea, treachery, treacherous dealers dealt treacherously.

17 Fear, and a snare, and a gin, <FI>Are<Fi> on thee, O inhabitant of the land.

18 And it hath come to pass, He who is fleeing from the noise of the fear Doth fall into the snare, And he who is coming up from the midst of the snare, Is captured by the gin, For windows on high have been opened, And shaken are foundations of the land.

19 Utterly broken down hath been the land, Utterly broken hath been the land, Utterly moved hath been the land.

20 Stagger greatly doth the land as a drunkard, And it hath been moved as a lodge, And heavy on it hath been its transgression, And it hath fallen, and addeth not to rise.

21 And it hath come to pass, in that day, Jehovah layeth a charge on the host of the high place in the high place, And on the kings of the land on the land.

22 And they have been gathered--A gathering of bound ones in a pit, And shut up they have been in a prison, And after a multitude of days are inspected.

23 And confounded hath been the moon, And ashamed hath been the sun, For reigned hath Jehovah of Hosts In mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, And over-against His elders--honour!

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).