The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 24

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 24 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Behold, HaShem maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.” — the complete text of all 23 verses is below, free to read online.

1Behold, HaShem maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

2And 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 creditor, so with the debtor.

3The earth shall be utterly emptied, and clean despoiled; for HaShem hath spoken this word.

4The earth fainteth and fadeth away, the world faileth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do fail.

5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statute, broken the everlasting covenant.

6Therefore hath a curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty; therefore the inhabitants of the earth waste away, and men are left few.

7The new wine faileth, the vine fadeth; all the merry-hearted do sigh.

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

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

10Broken down is the city of wasteness; every house is shut up, that none may come in.

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

12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten unto ruin.

13For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth, among the peoples, as at the beating of an olive-tree, as at the gleanings when the vintage is done.

14Those yonder lift up their voice, they sing for joy; for the majesty of HaShem they shout from the sea:

15'Therefore glorify ye HaShem in the regions of light, even the name of HaShem, the G-d of Israel, in the isles of the sea.'

16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: 'Glory to the righteous.' But I say: I waste away, I waste away, woe is me! The treacherous deal treacherously; yea, the treacherous deal very treacherously.

17Terror, and the pit, and the trap, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the terror shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the trap; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth do shake;

19The earth is broken, broken down, the earth is crumbled in pieces, the earth trembleth and tottereth;

20The earth reeleth to and fro like a drunken man, and swayeth to and fro as a lodge; and the transgression thereof is heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.

21And it shall come to pass in that day, that HaShem will punish the host of the high heaven on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the dungeon, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be punished.

23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for HaShem of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His elders shall be Glory.

23 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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