Contemplations

Isaiah 2
The LORDs Future Reign
1This is another vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2In the last days, the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth. People from all over the world will go there to worship. 3Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel.[a] There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." For in those days the LORD's teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem.
4The LORD will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end. 5Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

A Warning of Judgment
6The LORD has rejected the people of Israel because they have made alliances with foreigners from the East who practice magic and divination, just like the Philistines. 7Israel has vast treasures of silver and gold and many horses and chariots. 8The land is filled with idols. The people bow down and worship these things they have made. 9So now everyone will be humbled and brought low. The LORD cannot simply ignore their sins!
10Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide from the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty. 11The day is coming when your pride will be brought low and the LORD alone will be exalted. 12In that day the LORD Almighty will punish the proud, bringing them down to the dust. 13He will cut down the tall cedars of Lebanon and the mighty oaks of Bashan. 14He will level the high mountains and hills. 15He will break down every high tower and wall. 16He will destroy the great trading ships[b] and all the small boats in the harbor. 17The arrogance of all people will be brought low. Their pride will lie in the dust. The LORD alone will be exalted! 18Idols will be utterly abolished and destroyed.
19When the LORD rises to shake the earth, his enemies will crawl with fear into holes in the ground. They will hide in caves in the rocks from the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty. 20They will abandon their gold and silver idols to the moles and bats. 21They will crawl into caverns and hide among the jagged rocks at the tops of cliffs. In this way, they will try to escape the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty as he rises to shake the earth.
22Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. How can they be of help to anyone?

Footnotes:
Isaiah 2:3 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 2:5, 6.
Isaiah 2:16 Hebrew every ship of Tarshish.

Isaiah 3
Judgment against Judah
1The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will cut off the supplies of food and water from Jerusalem and Judah. 2He will destroy all the nation's leaders--the heroes, soldiers, judges, prophets, diviners, elders, 3army officers, honorable citizens, advisers, skilled magicians, and expert enchanters. 4Then he will appoint children to rule over them, and anarchy will prevail. 5People will take advantage of each other--man against man, neighbor fighting neighbor. Young people will revolt against authority, and nobodies will sneer at honorable people.
6In those days a man will say to his brother, "Since you have a cloak, you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of ruins!"
7"No!" he will reply. "I can't help. I don't have any extra food or clothes. Don't ask me to get involved!"
8Judah and Jerusalem will lie in ruins because they speak out against the LORD and refuse to obey him. They have offended his glorious presence among them. 9The very look on their faces gives them away and displays their guilt. They sin openly like the people of Sodom. They are not one bit ashamed. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought about their own destruction.
10But all will be well for those who are godly. Tell them, "You will receive a wonderful reward!" 11But say to the wicked, "Your destruction is sure. You, too, will get what you deserve. Your well-earned punishment is on the way."
12Children oppress my people, and women rule over them. O my people, can't you see what fools your rulers are? They are leading you down a pretty garden path to destruction.
13The LORD takes his place in court. He is the great prosecuting attorney, presenting his case against his people! 14The leaders and the princes will be the first to feel the LORD's judgment. "You have ruined Israel, which is my vineyard. You have taken advantage of the poor, filling your barns with grain extorted from helpless people. 15How dare you grind my people into the dust like that!" demands the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

A Warning for Jerusalems Women
16Next the LORD will judge the women of Jerusalem,[a] who walk around with their noses in the air, with tinkling ornaments on their ankles. Their eyes rove among the crowds, flirting with the men. 17The Lord will send a plague of scabs to ornament their heads. Yes, the LORD will make them bald for all to see!
18The Lord will strip away their artful beauty--their ornaments, headbands, and crescent necklaces; 19their earrings, bracelets, and veils of shimmering gauze. 20Gone will be their scarves, ankle chains, sashes, perfumes, and charms; 21their rings, jewels, 22party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses; 23their mirrors, linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls. 24Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, they will stink. They will wear ropes for sashes, and their well-set hair will fall out. They will wear rough sackcloth instead of rich robes. Their beauty will be gone. Only shame will be left to them.
25The men of the city will die in battle. 26The gates of Jerusalem[b] will weep and mourn. The city will be like a ravaged woman, huddled on the ground.

Footnotes:
Isaiah 3:16 Hebrew the daughters of Zion.
Isaiah 3:26 Hebrew Zion.