Judgment on the Whole Earth

Isaiah 24

The Lord announces a sweeping judgment on the whole earth because its inhabitants have transgressed his everlasting covenant, bringing an end to joy, trade, and city life alike. Amid the devastation a remnant is left to rejoice and glorify the Lord, who reigns from Zion and Jerusalem.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonBEHOLD the Lord is about to destroy this inhabited land! He will lay it waste and uncover the face thereof and scatter abroad them who dwell therein.

BrentonBehold, 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.

GreekἸδοὺ Κύριος καταφθείρει τὴν οἰκουμένην, καὶ ἐρημώσει αὐτὴν, καὶ ἀνακαλύψει τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς, καὶ διασπερεῖ τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας ἐν αὐτῇ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd it shall be as with the people so with the priest; as with the servant, so with the master; as with the maid, so with the mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller, as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the debtor, so with the creditor.

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὁ λαὸς ὡς ἱερεύς, καὶ ὁ παῖς ὡς ὁ κύριος, καὶ ἡ θεράπαινα ὡς ἡ κυρία· ἔσται ὁ ἀγοράζων ὡς ὁ πωλῶν, ὁ δανείζων ὡς ὁ δανειζόμενος, καὶ ὁ ὀφείλων ὡς ᾧ ὀφείλει.

KJVAnd 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 the giver of usury to him.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonWith destruction the land will be destroyed, and with spoiling this land will be ransacked: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken this.

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

GreekΦθορᾷ φθαρήσεται ἡ γῆ, καὶ προνομῇ προνομευθήσεται ἡ γῆ· τὸ γὰρ στόμα Κυρίου ἐλάλησε ταῦτα.

KJVThe land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

JPSThe earth shall be utterly emptied, and clean despoiled; For the LORD hath spoken this word.

Thomson—

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

GreekἘπένθησεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ ἐφθάρη ἡ οἰκουμένη, ἐπένθησαν οἱ ὑψηλοὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJV—

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

ThomsonAs for the land, it transgressed by means of its inhabitants. Because they transgressed the law, and changed the institutions—the everlasting covenant,

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

GreekἩ δὲ ἠνόμησε διὰ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτήν, διότι παρήλθοσαν τὸν νόμον, καὶ ἤλλαξαν τὰ προστάγματα διαθήκην αἰώνιον.

KJVThe earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

JPSThe earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; Because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statute, Broken the everlasting covenant.

Thomsontherefore a curse devoureth the land. Because they who dwell therein have sinned, therefore the inhabitants of the land shall be distressed, and few are the men who shall be left.

BrentonTherefore 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.

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀρὰ ἔδεται τὴν γῆν, ὅτι ἡμάρτοσαν οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτήν· διατοῦτο πτωχοὶ ἔσονται οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ καταλειφθήσονται ἄνθρωποι ὀλίγοι.

KJVTherefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

JPSTherefore 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.

ThomsonThe wine will mourn, the vineyard will mourn, and all that were merry-hearted will sigh.

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

GreekΠενθήσει οἶνος, πενθήσει ἄμπελος, στενάξουσιν πάντες οἱ εὐφραινόμενοι τὴν ψυχήν.

KJVThe new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

JPSThe new wine faileth, the vine fadeth; All the merry-hearted do sigh.

ThomsonThe mirth of the tabrets hath ceased, the sound of the kithara is no more.

BrentonThe mirth of timbrels has ceased, the sound of the harp has ceased.

GreekΠέπαυται εὐφροσύνη τυμπάνων, πέπαυται φωνὴ κιθάρας.

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

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

ThomsonThey are confounded: they have drunk no wine. The palm wine was bitter to them who drank it.

BrentonThey are ashamed, they have not drunk wine; strong drink has become bitter to them that drink it.

GreekἨσχύνθησαν, οὐκ ἔπιον οἶνον, πικρὸν ἐγένετο τὸ σίκερα τοῖς πίνουσιν.

KJVThey shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

JPSThey drink not wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to them that drink it.

ThomsonEvery city is desolated—the houses will be shut up that none may enter.

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

GreekἨρημώθη πᾶσα πόλις, κλείσει οἰκίαν τοῦ μὴ εἰσελθεῖν.

KJVThe city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

JPSBroken down is the city of wasteness; Every house is shut up, that none may come in.

ThomsonRaise the mournful cry every where for the wine. A stop is put to all the joy of the land—all the joy of the land is gone.

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

GreekὈλολύζεται περὶ τοῦ οἴνου πανταχῇ, πέπαυται πᾶσα εὐφροσύνη τῆς γῆς, ἀπῆλθε πᾶσα εὐφροσύνη τῆς γῆς.

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

JPSThere is a crying in the streets amidst the wine; All joy is darkened, The mirth of the land is gone.

ThomsonThe cities will be left desolate, and the houses being forsaken will be destroyed.

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

GreekΚαὶ καταλειφθήσονται πόλεις ἔρημοι, καὶ οἶκοι ἐγκαταλελειμμένοι ἀπολοῦνται.

KJV—

JPSIn the city is left desolation, And the gate is smitten unto ruin. .

ThomsonAll this shall come to pass in this land, in the midst of the nations. As when one shall shake an olive tree, so shall they be shaken: and when the vintage is over

BrentonAll 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,

GreekΤαῦτα πάντα ἔσονται ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἐθνῶν· ὃν τρόπον ἐάν τις καλαμήσηται ἐλαίαν, οὕτως καλαμήσονται αὐτούς· καὶ ἐὰν παύσηται ὁ τρυγητὸς,

KJVWhen thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

JPSFor 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.

Thomsona shout will be raised. But they who are left in the land shall be gladdened with the glory of the Lord.

Brentonthese 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.

Greekοὗτοι βοῇ φωνήσουσιν. οἱ δὲ καταλειφθέντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εὐφρανθήσονται ἅμα τῇ δόξῃ Κυρίου, ταραχθήσεται τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς θαλάσσης.

KJVThey shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

JPS—

ThomsonThe water of the sea will be troubled: for this cause the glory of the Lord will be in the isles of the sea. In the isles of the sea the name of the Lord will be glorious.

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

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἡ δόξα Κυρίου ἐν ταῖς νήσοις ἔσται τῆς θαλάσσης, τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου ἔνδοξον ἔσται.

KJVWherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

JPS’Therefore glorify ye the LORD in the regions of light, Even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.’

ThomsonO Lord the God of Israel! from the outskirts of the earth we have heard of Thy wonders: there is hope for the righteous. Let them say also, Woe to the rebels who reject the law!

BrentonO 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.

GreekΚύριε ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, ἀπὸ τῶν πτερύγων τῆς γῆς τέρατα ἠκούσαμεν, ἐλπὶς τῷ εὐσεβεῖ· καὶ ἐροῦσιν, οὐαὶ τοῖς ἀθετοῦσιν, οἱ ἀθετοῦντες τὸν νόμον.

KJV—

JPSFrom 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.

ThomsonTerror and a pit and a snare are for you who dwell in the land: and it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the terror, shall fall into the pit;

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

GreekΦόβος καὶ βόθυνος καὶ παγὶς ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

KJVFear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

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

Thomsonand he who getteth out of the pit, shall be caught by the snare. Because the floodgates of heaven are opened, therefore the foundations of the land shall be shaken.

BrentonAnd 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,

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὁ φεύγων τὸν φόβον, ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς τὸν βόθυνον· καὶ ὁ ἐκβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ βοθύνου, ἁλώσεται ὑπὸ τῆς παγίδος· ὅτι θυρίδες ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀνεῴχθησαν, καὶ σεισθήσεται τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise 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 from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

JPSAnd 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;

ThomsonWith confusion the land will be confounded; with perplexity this land will be perplexed.

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

GreekΤαραχῇ ταραχθήσεται ἡ γῆ, καὶ ἀπορίᾳ ἀπορηθήσεται ἡ γῆ.

KJVThe earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

JPS—

ThomsonIt reeled to and fro like a drunkard when intoxicated: like a lodge in a vineyard the land shall be shaken. For iniquity hath prevailed over it; and it shall fall and shall not be able to rise.

BrentonIt 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.

GreekἜκλινεν ὡς ὁ μεθύων καὶ κραιπαλῶν, καὶ σεισθήσεται ὡς ὀπωροφυλάκιον ἡ γῆ· κατίσχυσεν γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς ἡ ἀνομία, καὶ πεσεῖται, καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνηται ἀναστῆναι.

KJVThe earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

JPS—

ThomsonWhen God shall bring His hand on the hosts of heaven, even upon the kings of this land;

BrentonAnd God shall bring his hand upon the host of heaven, and upon the kings of the earth.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπάξει ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ τὸν κόσμον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τὴν χεῖρα, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of the high heaven on high, And the kings of the earth upon the earth.

Thomsonand the congregation thereof shall have been assembled for imprisonment, and shut up as chaff for many generations; of them there shall be a visitation.

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

GreekΚαὶ συνάξουσι συναγωγὴν αὐτῆς εἰς δεσμωτήριον, καὶ ἀποκλείσουσιν εἰς ὀχύρωμα· διὰ πολλῶν γενεῶν ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

JPS—

ThomsonWhen the bricks shall have mouldered away, and the wall shall have fallen; because the Lord will commence His reign from Sion and from Jerusalem, and be glorified in the presence of the elders.

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ τακήσεται ἡ πλίνθος, καὶ πεσεῖται τὸ τεῖχος· ὅτι βασιλεύσει Κύριος ἐκ Σιὼν, καὶ ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν πρεσβυτέρων δοξασθήσεται.

KJVThen the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

JPSThen the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign in mount Zion, And in Jerusalem, and before His elders shall be Glory.