Isaiah 24:11-22

11 Cry shall be on wine in [the] streets, all gladness is forsaken, the joy of [the] earth is taken away. (A cry for some wine shall be in the streets, all happiness is gone, the joy of the land is taken away.)

12 Desolation is left in the city, and wretchedness shall oppress the gates.

13 For these things shall be in the midst of [the] earth, in the midst of (the) peoples, as if a few fruits of olive trees that be left be shaken off from the olive tree (like when the few fruits that be left on the olive trees be shaken off the trees), and (like the last of the) raisins, when the vintage is ended.

14 These men shall raise [up] their voice, and shall praise, when the Lord shall be glorified; they shall show signs of gladness from the sea (they shall shout with joy from the west).

15 For this thing glorify ye the Lord in teachings; in the isles of the sea glorify ye the name of the Lord God of Israel. (And so glorify ye the Lord in the east; on the islands of the sea glorify ye the name of the Lord God of Israel.)

16 From the ends of [the] earth we have heard praisings, the glory of the just. And I said, My private to me, my private to me (But I said, Treasons! treasons!). Woe to me, [the] trespassers have trespassed, and have trespassed by [the] trespassing of (the) breakers of the law.

17 Fearedfulness, and a ditch, and a snare on thee, that art a dweller of [the] earth. (Let fearfulness, and a ditch, and a snare be upon thee, who art an inhabitant of the land.)

18 And it shall be, he that shall flee from the face of fearedfulness, shall fall into the ditch; and he that shall deliver himself from the ditch, shall be holden of the snare; for why the windows of high things be opened, and the foundaments of [the] earth shall be shaken together. (And it shall be, that he who shall flee from the face of fearfulness, shall fall into the ditch; and he who shall get himself out of the ditch, shall be caught by the snare; for the windows of the high places, or of the heavens, be opened, and the foundations of the earth shall be altogether shaken.)

19 The earth shall be broken with breaking, the earth shall be defouled with defouling (the earth shall be defiled with defiling), the earth shall be moved with moving,

20 the earth shall be shaken with shaking, as a drunken man. And it shall be taken away, as the tabernacle of one night (like a tent in the night), and the wickedness thereof shall grieve it; and it shall fall down, and it shall not add, for to rise again.

21 And it shall be, in that day the Lord shall visit on the knighthood of heaven on high, and on the kings of (the) earth, that be on earth. (And it shall be, on that day the Lord shall punish the host of heaven on high, and the kings of the earth, who be on the earth.)

22 And they shall be gathered together in the gathering together of a bundle into the pit, and they shall be closed there in prison; and after many days they shall be visited. (And they shall be gathered together like prisoners be gathered together in a pit, and they shall be enclosed there in prison; and after many days they shall be punished.)

Isaiah 24:11-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 24

This chapter contains a prophecy of calamities that should come upon the whole world, and the inhabitants of it, for their sins; of the preservation of a remnant; of the visitation of the kings of the earth; and of the appearance of Christ in his glory and majesty. The miserable condition of the world, and its inhabitants, especially all within the Romish jurisdiction, is set forth by various phrases, Isa 24:1-4 the causes of which are the transgression and mutation of the laws and ordinances of Christ, Isa 24:5 the effects of which are the cursing and burning of the inhabitants, Isa 24:6 cessation of all joy among them, Isa 24:7-9 and the destruction of their chief city, Rome, Isa 24:10-12 then follows a prophecy of a remnant that shall escape, and be brought into a very comfortable condition, and sing for joy, and glorify God in the midst of the earth, and in the uttermost parts of it, Isa 24:13-16 but it is intimated it shall go ill with others for their perfidy and treachery; fear and danger shall attend them everywhere, Isa 24:16-18 yea, in the issue, the world shall be shaken, and moved and removed, and be utterly dissolved, fall and not rise more, Isa 24:19,20 when the kings and great ones of the earth shall be taken prisoners, and punished by the Lord, Isa 24:21,22 and then Christ shall take to himself his great power, and reign with his people gloriously in the New Jerusalem state, Isa 24:23.