Verse 10: “Say to the righteous: ‘For it is good for the fruit of your deeds to eat.”

Righteous: God makes a distinction between those who behave righteously and those who do not. For those who think and behave righteously their retribution (payback) will be blessing – those things which are in line with God’s will i.e good.

Verse 11: “Woe to the wicked! Evil (to them). For the retribution of his hand will be done unto him.”

Evil: The wicked ones can expect death and curse – those things which are not in God’s perfect will (i.e evil things).

Retribution: Payment. Reward. What he has earned.

His hand: Referring to his deeds or actions.

Verse 12: “My people, youth are their oppressors, and women will rule over him. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err and swallow up the way of your paths.”

Him: Written in the masculine. Women rule over the people.

Note: The leaders in this society are immature people and women.

Cause you to err: These improper leaders are taking the people in the wrong direction. God is revealing to the people of Judah that the path they are heading down is a path of destruction. It is a path where they make poor decisions and have no spiritual discernment.
Biblical culture has been overtaken. It is a thing of the past.

Scripturally speaking, men are called to be the spiritual leaders. Women, however, historically and even Scripturally, tend to be foundational in the spiritual well-being of a society. When women live in obedience to God’s Word, it has a great influence on society
and on men being faithful to their role. When women turn away from what God has instructed them to do, society plummets. Historically, sociologists have proven that when modesty, of women, in a society is done away with, that society enters a decline politically, economically, and socially. The Bible places emphasis on the modesty of women. We are not called to attract attention to our physical features, but what should stand out in a woman is her inner characteristics (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

Verse 13: “The Lord stands to contend. He stands to judge the people.”

Lord: The name used for the transcendent God.

Stands: God positioned Himself in a specific location. The word used here is word that carries the connotation of stability. God takes a stand. He is stable, and the purpose of this to bring stability into society.

Contend: This is not the word ‘plead’. God has a contention. He is standing against the behaviour of the people.

People: The context around this word tells us that this is not speaking about the nations but is referring to Israel – specifically the southern kingdom of Judah.

Verse 14: “The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and his princes: For you have consumed the vineyard, the plunder of the poor is in your house.”

The Lord: The same word used for the transcendent God.

The elders of His people: This prophecy is geared toward Israel. Therefore, giving context to ‘people’ in Isaiah 3:13.

Princes: Cabinet members of a government. Those who are in high positions of leadership within a country.

Consumed the vineyard: Instead of being a blessing, they used their positions of leadership for their own benefit and financial gain.

Vineyard: Isaiah 5:7 tells us that this vineyard is (symbolic of) the house of Israel – Israel collectively as a people, as a nation.

Plunder: They took the goods of the poor by force.

In your house: They took, and are utilising, goods from the poor for their own personal enjoyment. Exploitation is evidence of improper leadership.