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First Reading: Isaiah Chapter 3 and 4
Isaiah 3
3:1
See now, the Lord,the LORD Almighty,is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah
both supply and support:all supplies of food and all supplies of water, 2 the
hero and warrior,the judge and prophet,the soothsayer and elder, 3 the captain
of fifty and man of rank,the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
4 I will make boys their officials;mere children will govern them. 5 People
will oppress each other — man against man, neighbor against neighbor.The
young will rise up against the old,the base against the honorable.
6 A man will seize one of his brothers at his father's home, and say,"You
have a cloak, you be our leader;take charge of this heap of ruins!" 7 But
in that day he will cry out,"I have no remedy.I have no food or clothing
in my house;do not make me the leader of the people."
8 Jerusalem staggers,Judah is falling;their words and deeds are against the
LORD,defying his glorious presence. 9 The look on their faces testifies against
them;they parade their sin like Sodom;they do not hide it.Woe to them!They have
brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them,for they will enjoy the fruit
of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!They will be paid
back for what their hands have done.
12 Youths oppress my people,women rule over them.O my people, your guides lead
you astray;they turn you from the path.
13 The LORD takes his place in court;he rises to judge the people. 14 The LORD
enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people:"It is
you who have ruined my vineyard;the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?"
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
16 The LORD says,"The women of Zion are haughty,walking along with outstretched
necks,flirting with their eyes,tripping along with mincing steps,with ornaments
jingling on their ankles. 17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads
of the women of Zion;the LORD will make their scalps bald."
18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands
and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses
and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings
and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and
mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
24 Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;instead of a sash, a rope;instead
of well-dressed hair, baldness;instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;instead of
beauty, branding. 25 Your men will fall by the sword,your warriors in battle.
26 The gates of Zion will lament and mourn;destitute, she will sit on the ground.
Isaiah 4
4:1 In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, "We will
eat our own food and provide our own clothes;only let us be called by your name.Take
away our disgrace!"
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the
fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3
Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all
who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the
filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by
a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over
all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day
and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6
It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding
place from the storm and rain.
Second Reading: Psalms Chapter 76
Psalms 76
76:1 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
In Judah God is known;his name is great in Israel. 2 His tent is in Salem,his
dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows,the shields and
the swords, the weapons of war. Selah
4 You are resplendent with light,more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 Valiant men lie plundered,they sleep their last sleep;not one of the warriors
can lift his hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,both horse and chariot
lie still. 7 You alone are to be feared.Who can stand before you when you are
angry? 8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,and the land feared and was quiet
— 9 when you, O God, rose up to judge,to save all the afflicted of the
land.Selah 10 Surely your wrath against men brings you praise,and the survivors
of your wrath are restrained.
11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared. 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;he is
feared by the kings of the earth.
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
ISAIAH
Part 2 of 4
Isaiah is a large book and is considered a "major" prophet. The 66 chapters can be sectioned as follows:
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