Isa 24:1-12 | ESV | STEP | Behold , the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate , and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants .

Isaiah 24:1-12

Judgment on the Whole Earth

1 Behold, ^athe Lord will empty the earth ^{▼▼Or land; also throughout this chapter} and make it desolate,
and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
2 ^cAnd it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest;
as with the slave, so with his master;
as with the maid, so with her mistress;
^das with the buyer, so with the seller;
as with the lender, so with the borrower;
^eas with the creditor, so with the debtor.
3 ^fThe earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered;
^gfor the Lord has spoken this word.
4 ^hThe earth mourns and withers;
the world languishes and withers;
the highest people of the earth languish.
5 The earth lies ⁱdefiled
under its inhabitants;
for ^jthey have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore ^ka curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants ^lsuffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.
7 ^mThe wine mourns,
the vine languishes,
all the merry-hearted sigh.
8 ⁿThe mirth of the tambourines is stilled,
the noise of the jubilant has ceased,
the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
9 No more do they drink wine ^owith singing;
strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 ^pThe wasted city is broken down;
^qevery house is shut up so that none can enter.
11 ^rThere is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;
^sall joy has grown dark;
the gladness of the earth is banished.
12 Desolation is left in the city;
the gates are battered into ruins.