Isaiah 3; Isaiah 4; Galatians 6

1 Understand this: The Lord God All-Powerful will take away everything Judah and Jerusalem need -- all the food and water,

2 the heroes and great soldiers, the judges and prophets, people who do magic and older leaders,

3 the military leaders and government leaders, the counselors, the skilled craftsmen, and those who try to tell the future.

4 The Lord says, "I will cause young boys to be your leaders, and foolish children will rule over you.

5 People will be against each other; everyone will be against his neighbor. Young people will not respect older people, and common people will not respect important people."

6 At that time a man will grab one of his brothers from his own family and say, "You have a coat, so you will be our leader. These ruins will be under your control."

7 But that brother will stand up and say, "I cannot help you, because I do not have food or clothes in my house. You will not make me your leader."

8 This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen. The things they say and do are against the Lord; they turn against him.

9 The look on their faces shows they are guilty; like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin. They don't care who sees it. How terrible it will be for them, because they have brought much trouble on themselves.

10 Tell those who do what is right that things will go well for them, because they will receive a reward for what they do.

11 But how terrible it will be for the wicked! They will be punished for all the wrong they have done.

12 Children treat my people cruelly, and women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you in the wrong way and turn you away from what is right.

13 The Lord takes his place in court and stands to judge the people.

14 The Lord presents his case against the older leaders and other leaders of his people: "You have burned the vineyard. Your houses are full of what you took from the poor.

15 What gives you the right to crush my people and grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?" The Lord God All-Powerful says this.

16 The Lord says, "The women of Jerusalem are proud. They walk around with their heads held high, and they flirt with their eyes. They take quick, short steps, making noise with their ankle bracelets."

17 So the Lord will put sores on the heads of those women in Jerusalem, and he will make them lose their hair.

18 At that time the Lord will take away everything that makes them proud: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their necklaces shaped like the moon,

19 their earrings, bracelets, and veils,

20 their scarves, ankle chains, the cloth belts worn around their waists, their bottles of perfume, and charms,

21 their signet rings, nose rings,

22 their fine robes, capes, shawls, and purses,

23 their mirrors, linen dresses, turbans, and long shawls.

24 Instead of wearing sweet-smelling perfume, they will stink. Instead of fine cloth belts, they will wear the ropes of captives. Instead of having their hair fixed in fancy ways, they will be bald. Instead of fine clothes, they will wear clothes of sadness. Instead of being beautiful, they will wear the brand of a captive.

25 At that time your men will be killed with swords, and your heroes will die in war.

26 There will be crying and sadness near the city gates. Jerusalem will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground.

1 At that time seven women will grab one man and say, "We will eat our own bread and make our own clothes, but please marry us! Please, take away our shame."

2 At that time the Lord's branch will be very beautiful and great. The people still living in Israel will be proud of what the land grows.

3 Those who are still living in Jerusalem will be called holy; their names are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

4 The Lord will wash away the filth from the women of Jerusalem. He will wash the bloodstains out of Jerusalem and clean the city with the spirit of fairness and the spirit of fire.

5 Then the Lord will cover Mount Zion and the people who meet there with a cloud of smoke during the day and with a bright, flaming fire at night. There will be a covering over every person.

6 This covering will protect the people from the heat of the sun and will provide a safe place to hide from the storm and rain. Israel, the Lord's Vineyard

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too.

2 By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.

3 If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself.

4 Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done.

5 Each person must be responsible for himself.

6 Anyone who is learning the teaching of God should share all the good things he has with his teacher.

7 Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant.

8 If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit.

9 We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up.

10 When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.

11 See what large letters I use to write this myself.

12 Some people are trying to force you to be circumcised so the Jews will accept them. They are afraid they will be attacked if they follow only the cross of Christ.

13 Those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so they can brag about what they forced you to do.

14 I hope I will never brag about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging. Through the cross of Jesus my world was crucified, and I died to the world.

15 It is not important if a man is circumcised or uncircumcised. The important thing is being the new people God has made.

16 Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule -- and to all of God's people.

17 So do not give me any more trouble. I have scars on my body that shown I belong to Christ Jesus.

18 My brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.