16 The Lord says,
    “The women of Zion(A) are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,(B)
    flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
    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.(C)

18 In that day(D) the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces,(E) 19 the earrings and bracelets(F) and veils,(G) 20 the headdresses(H) and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings,(I) 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks,(J) the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments(K) and tiaras(L) and shawls.

24 Instead of fragrance(M) there will be a stench;(N)
    instead of a sash,(O) a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;(P)
    instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;(Q)
    instead of beauty,(R) branding.(S)

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16 Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

21 The rings, and nose jewels,

22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

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Judah’s Women Denounced

16 Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the (A)daughters of Zion are haughty
And walk with [a]heads held high and seductive eyes,
And go along with mincing steps
And jingle the anklets on their feet,
17 The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs,
And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.”

18 On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, (B)crescent ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 (C)headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21 [b]finger rings, (D)nose rings, 22 festive robes, outer garments, shawls, purses, 23 papyrus garments, undergarments, headbands, and veils.

24 Now it will come about that instead of (E)balsam oil there will be a stench;
Instead of a belt, a rope;
Instead of (F)well-set hair, a (G)plucked-out scalp;
Instead of fine clothes, a (H)robe of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 3:16 Lit outstretched necks
  2. Isaiah 3:21 Or signet rings

Judah’s Women Denounced

16 
Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud
And walk with outstretched necks and seductive (flirtatious, alluring) eyes,
And trip along with mincing steps and an affected gait
And walk with jingling [a]anklets on their feet,
17 
Therefore the Lord will afflict the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs [making them bald],
And the Lord will expose their foreheads (send them into captivity).”

18 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, [braided] caps, crescent [head] ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, and the hanging veils and scarves, 20 head wraps (turbans), [short, jingling] ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets (charms), 21 signet [finger] rings, nose rings, 22 festival robes, outer tunics, shawls, handbags, 23 hand mirrors, [fine linen] undergarments, headbands, and veils [covering the entire body].

24 
Now it will come to pass that instead of the sweet fragrance of spices there will be [the stench of] rottenness;
Instead of a belt, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth;
And branding [of captives by the scorching heat] instead of beauty.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 3:16 Decorative chains attached from one ankle to the other to insure a measured gait.

16-17 God says, “Zion women are stuck-up,
    prancing around in their high heels,
Making eyes at all the men in the street,
    swinging their hips,
Tossing their hair,
    gaudy and garish in cheap jewelry.”
The Master will fix it so those Zion women
    will all turn bald—
Scabby, bald-headed women.
    The Master will do it.

18-23 The time is coming when the Master will strip them of their fancy baubles—the dangling earrings, anklets and bracelets, combs and mirrors and silk scarves, diamond brooches and pearl necklaces, the rings on their fingers and the rings on their toes, the latest fashions in hats, exotic perfumes and aphrodisiacs, gowns and capes, all the world’s finest in fabrics and design.

24 Instead of wearing seductive scents,
    these women are going to smell like rotting cabbages;
Instead of modeling flowing gowns,
    they’ll be sporting rags;
Instead of their stylish hairdos,
    scruffy heads;
Instead of beauty marks,
    scabs and scars.

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