The Daughters of Zion

Isaiah 3

Isaiah pictures the Lord stripping Jerusalem of its leaders, warriors, and elders, leaving the people to be ruled by youths and afflicted by mutual violence and injustice toward the poor. He rebukes the proud daughters of Zion for their vanity, describing how the Lord will strip away their fine jewelry and garments and replace their glory with sackcloth and mourning.

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, now the sovereign Lord of Hosts will remove from Jerusalem and from Judea all stay and support of every kind—the stay of bread and the stay of water;

BrentonBehold now, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will take away from Jerusalem and from Judea the mighty man and mighty woman, the strength of bread, and the strength of water,

GreekἸδοὺ δὴ ὁ δεσπότης Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἀφελεῖ ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἰσχύοντα καὶ ἰσχύουσαν, ἰσχὺν ἄρτου καὶ ἰσχὺν ὕδατος,

KJVFor, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

JPSFor, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, Doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah Stay and staff, Every stay of bread, and every stay of water;

Thomsonthe giant and mighty man and warrior; judge and prophet; instructor and elder;

Brentonthe great and mighty man, the warrior and the judge, and the prophet, and the counsellor, and the elder,

Greekγίγαντα καὶ ἰσχύοντα, καὶ ἄνθρωπον πολεμιστὴν, καὶ δικαστὴν, καὶ προφήτην, καὶ στοχαστὴν, καὶ πρεσβύτερον,

KJVThe mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

JPSThe mighty man, and the man of war; The judge, and the prophet, And the diviner, and the elder;

Thomsonthe captain of fifty, and honourable counsellor; the skilful architect and intelligent scholar:

Brentonthe captain of fifty also, and the honourable counsellor, and the wise artificer, and the intelligent hearer.

Greekκαὶ πεντηκόνταρχον, καὶ θαυμαστὸν σύμβουλον, καὶ σοφὸν ἀρχιτέκτονα, καὶ συνετὸν ἀκροατήν.

KJVThe captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

JPSThe captain of fifty, and the man of rank, And the counsellor, and the cunning charmer, and the skilful enchanter.

ThomsonAnd I will make boys their princes; and scorners shall rule over them.

BrentonAnd I will make youths their princes, and mockers shall have dominion over them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπιστήσω νεανίσκους ἄρχοντας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐμπαίκται κυριεύσουσιν αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

JPSAnd I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them.

ThomsonAnd upon one another the people will fall foul, and jostle every man against his neighbour—the boy against the elder and the base against the honourable, [saith the Lord].

BrentonAnd the people shall fall, man upon man, and every man upon his neighbour: the child shall insult the elder man, and the base the honourable.

GreekΚαὶ συμπεσεῖται ὁ λαὸς, ἄνθρωπος πρὸς ἄνθρωπον, καὶ ἄνθρωπος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· προσκόψει τὸ παιδίον πρὸς τὸν πρεσβύτην, ὁ ἄτιμος πρὸς τὸν ἔντιμον.

KJVAnd the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

JPSAnd the people shall oppress one another, Every man his fellow, and every man his neighbour; The child shall behave insolently against the aged, And the base against the honourable,

ThomsonBecause a man will take hold of his brother, or the head of the house of his father, saying: Thou hast clothing be thou our leader, and let me be supplied with food under thee.

BrentonFor a man shall lay hold of his brother, as one of his father's household, saying, Thou hast raiment, be thou our ruler, and let my meat be under thee.

GreekὍτι ἐπιλήψεται ἄνθρωπος τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἢ τοῦ οἰκείου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, λέγων, ἱμάτιον ἔχεις, ἀρχηγὸς γενοῦ ἡμῶν, καὶ τὸ βρῶμα τὸ ἐμὸν ὑπὸ σὲ ἔστω.

KJVWhen a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

JPSFor a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father: ‘Thou hast a mantle, Be thou our ruler, And let this ruin be under thy hand.’

ThomsonTherefore on that day he will answer and say, I will not be thy leader, for in my house there is neither bread nor raiment, I will not be the leader of this people.

BrentonAnd he shall answer in that day, and say, I will not be thy ruler; for I have no bread in my house, nor raiment: I will not be the ruler of this people.

GreekΚαὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐρεῖ, οὐκ ἔσομαί σου ἀρχηγός· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου ἄρτος, οὐδὲ ἱμάτιον· οὐκ ἔσομαι ἀρχηγὸς τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου.

KJVIn that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

JPSIn that day shall he swear, saying: ‘I will not be a healer; For in my house is neither bread nor a mantle; Ye shall not make me ruler of a people.’

ThomsonBecause Jerusalem is forsaken and Judea is fallen therefore their tongues concur with their transgression. They disbelieve the things relating to the Lord.

BrentonFor Jerusalem is ruined, and Judea has fallen, and their tongues have spoken with iniquity, disobedient as they are towards the Lord.

GreekὍτι ἀνεῖται Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἡ Ἰουδαία συμπέπτωκε, καὶ αἱ γλῶσσαι αὐτῶν μετὰ ἀνομίας, τὰ πρὸς Κύριον ἀπειθοῦντες. Διότι νῦν ἐταπεινώθη ἡ δόξα αὐτῶν,

KJVFor Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

JPSFor Jerusalem is ruined, And Judah is fallen; Because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, To provoke the eyes of His glory.

ThomsonBecause their glory is now humbled; and the shame of their countenance is risen up against them: their sin therefore, like the Sodomites, they proclaimed and openly avowed. Alas for their souls! Because they have counselled an evil counsel against themselves,

BrentonWherefore now their glory has been brought low, and the shame of their countenance has withstood them, and they have proclaimed their sin as Sodom, and made it manifest.

Greekκαὶ ἡ αἰσχύνη τοῦ προσώπου αὐτῶν ἀντέστη αὐτοῖς· τὴν δὲ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῶν ὡς Σοδόμων ἀνήγγειλαν καὶ ἐνεφάνισαν· οὐαὶ τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, διότι βεβούλευνται βουλὴν πονηρὰν, καθʼ ἑαυτῶν

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonsaying, Let us bind the just one, for he is disagreeable to us; let them therefore eat the fruits of their deeds.

BrentonWoe to their soul, for they have devised an evil counsel against themselves, saying against themselves, Let us bind the just, for he is burdensome to us: therefore shall they eat the fruits of their works.

Greekεἰπόντες, δήσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστι· τοίνυν τὰ γεννήματα τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν φάγονται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAlas for the wicked! according to the works of his hands evils shall befall him.

BrentonWoe to the transgressor! evils shall happen to him according to the works of his hands.

GreekΟὐαὶ τῷ ἀνόμῳ, πονηρὰ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ συμβήσεται αὐτῷ.

KJVWoe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

JPSWoe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; For the work of his hands shall be done to him.

ThomsonO my people! your taskmasters glean you; and exactors tyrannise over you. O my people! They who call you happy lead you astray; and disturb the path of your feet.

BrentonO my people, your exactors strip you, and extortioners rule over you: O my people, they that pronounce you blessed lead you astray, and pervert the path of your feet.

GreekΛαός μου, οἱ πράκτορες ὑμῶν καλαμῶνται ὑμᾶς, καὶ οἱ ἀπαιτοῦντες κυριεύουσιν ὑμῶν· λαός μου, οἱ μακαρίζοντες ὑμᾶς πλανῶσιν ὑμᾶς, καὶ τὸν τρίβον τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν ταράσσουσιν.

KJVAs for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

JPSAs for My people, a babe is their master, And women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, And destroy the way of thy paths.

ThomsonBut the Lord will now arise to plead His cause; and He will arraign His people.

BrentonBut now the Lord will stand up for judgment, and will enter into judgment with his people.

GreekἈλλὰ νῦν καταστήσεται εἰς κρίσιν Κύριος, καὶ στήσει εἰς κρίσιν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVThe LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

JPS—

ThomsonThe Lord will Himself come to a trial with the elders of the people and with their chiefs: Why have you burned up My vineyard? And why is the plunder of the poor in your houses?

BrentonThe Lord himself shall enter into judgment with the elders of the people, and with their rulers: but why have ye set my vineyard on fire, and why is the spoil of the poor in your houses?

GreekΑὐτὸς Κύριος εἰς κρίσιν ἥξει μετὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων αὐτοῦ· ὑμεῖς δὲ τί ἐνεπυρίσατε τὸν ἀμπελῶνά μου, καὶ ἡ ἁρπαγὴ τοῦ πτωχοῦ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις ὑμῶν;

KJVThe LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

JPSThe LORD will enter into judgment With the elders of His people, and the princes thereof: ‘It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; The spoil of the poor is in your houses;

ThomsonWhy do you injure My people; and cover with shame the face of the poor.

BrentonWhy do ye wrong my people, and shame the face of the poor?

GreekΤί ὑμεῖς ἀδικεῖτε τὸν λαόν μου, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον τῶν πτωχῶν καταισχύνετε;

KJVWhat mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

JPSWhat mean ye that ye crush My people, And grind the face of the poor?’ Saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty and have walked with outstretched neck and wanton eyes, trailing with them in their gait flowing robes, and moving in set pace with their feet;

BrentonThus saith the Lord, Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and have walked with an outstretched neck, and with winking of the eyes, and motion of the feet, at the same time drawing their garments in trains, and at the same time sporting with their feet:

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἀνθʼ ὧν ὑψώθησαν αἱ θυγατέρες Σιών, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὑψηλῷ τραχήλῳ καὶ ἐν νεύμασιν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ τῇ πορείᾳ τῶν ποδῶν ἅμα σύρουσαι τοὺς χιτῶνας, καὶ τοῖς ποσὶν ἅμα παίζουσαι·

KJVMoreover 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:

JPSMoreover the LORD said: 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;

Thomsontherefore God will humble the princely daughters of Sion and the Lord will expose their form to view.

Brentontherefore the Lord will humble the chief daughters of Sion, and the Lord will expose their form in that day;

GreekΚαὶ ταπεινώσει ὁ Θεὸς ἀρχούσας θυγατέρας Σιών· καὶ Κύριος ἀνακαλύψει τὸ σχῆμα αὐτῶν

KJVTherefore 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.

JPSTherefore the Lord will smite with a scab The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, And the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.

ThomsonOn that day the Lord will take away the finery of their attire, the cauls and the curls and the crescents,

Brentonand the Lord will take away the glory of their raiment, the curls and the fringes, and the crescents,

Greekἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἀφελεῖ Κύριος τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἱματισμοῦ αὐτῶν, τὰ ἐμπλόκια, καὶ τοὺς κοσύμβους, καὶ τοὺς μηνίσκους,

KJVIn 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,

JPSIn that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their anklets, and the fillets, and the crescents;

Thomson—

Brentonand the chains, and the ornaments of their faces,

Greekκαὶ τὸ κάθεμα, καὶ τὸν κόσμον τοῦ προσώπου αὐτῶν,

KJVThe chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

JPS—

Thomsonand the gorgeous wreathed tiara, and the necklaces and the bracelets, and the zone and the rings for the fingers, and the ornaments for the right arms,

Brentonand the array of glorious ornaments, and the armlets, and the bracelets, and the wreathed work, and the finger-rings, and the ornaments for the right hand, and the ear-rings,

Greekκαὶ τὴν σύνθεσιν τοῦ κόσμου τῆς δόξης, καὶ τοὺς χλιδῶνας, καὶ τὰ ψέλλια, καὶ τὸ ἐμπλόκιον, καὶ τοὺς δακτυλίους, καὶ τὰ περιδέξια, καὶ τὰ ἐνώτια,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand the earrings and the robes with purple borders, and those the middle of which is purple, and the dresses worn at home, and the Laconian gauzes and cotton robes, and those of purple and scarlet and cotton, embroidered with gold and purple; and the summer sofas.

Brentonand the garments with scarlet borders, and the garments with purple grounds,

Greekκαὶ τὰ περιπόρφυρα, καὶ τὰ μεσοπόρφυρα,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonand the shawls to be worn in the house, and the Spartan transparent dresses,

Greekκαὶ τὰ ἐπιβλήματα τὰ κατὰ τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ τὰ διαφανῆ Λακωνικά,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonand those made of fine linen, and the purple ones, and the scarlet ones, and the fine linen, interwoven with gold and purple, and the light coverings for couches.

Greekκαὶ τὰ βύσσινα, καὶ τὰ ὑακίνθινα, καὶ κόκκινα, καὶ τὴν βύσσον, σὺν χρυσῷ καὶ ὑακίνθῳ συγκαθυφασμένα, καὶ θέριστρα κατάκλιτα.

KJVThe glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

JPSand the gauze robes, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the mantles.

ThomsonAnd instead of perfumes there shall be ashes; and instead of a girdle thou shalt be girded with rushes; and instead of a golden headdress thou shalt have baldness, on the account of thy doings; and instead of the purple robe thou shalt gird on sackcloth.

BrentonAnd there shall be instead of a sweet smell, dust; and instead of a girdle, thou shalt gird thyself with a rope; and instead of a golden ornament for the head, thou shalt have baldness on account of thy works; and instead of a tunic with a scarlet ground, thou shalt gird thyself with sackcloth.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἀντὶ ὀσμῆς ἡδείας, κονιορτός· καὶ ἀντὶ ζώνης, σχοινίῳ ζώσῃ· καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ κόσμου τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ χρυσίου, φαλάκρωμα ἕξεις διὰ τὰ ἔργα σοῦ· καὶ ἀντὶ τοῦ χιτῶνος τοῦ μεσοπορφύρου, περιζώσῃ σάκκον.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, that Instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; And instead of a girdle rags; And instead of curled hair baldness; And instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; Branding instead of beauty.

ThomsonAnd thy son the most beautiful whom thou lovest shall fall by the sword; and your mighty men shall fall by the sword and be laid low;

BrentonAnd thy most beautiful son whom thou lovest shall fall by the sword; and your mighty men shall fall by the sword, and shall be brought low.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ υἱός σου ὁ κάλλιστος ὃν ἀγαπᾷς, μαχαίρᾳ πεσεῖται· καὶ οἱ ἰσχύοντες ὑμῶν, μαχαίρᾳ πεσοῦνται, καὶ ταπεινωθήσονται·

KJVThy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

JPSThy men shall fall by the sword, And thy mighty in the war.

Thomsonand your wardrobes shall mourn; and thou shalt be left solitary and shalt sit on the ground.

BrentonAnd the stores of your ornaments shall mourn, and thou shalt be left alone, and shalt be levelled with the ground.

GreekΚαὶ πενθήσουσιν αἱ θῆκαι τοῦ κόσμου ὑμῶν· καὶ καταλειφθήσῃ μόνη, καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐδαφισθήσῃ.

KJV—

JPS—