Isaiah 1

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Judah on Trial

2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth,
for the Lord has spoken:
"I have raised children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against Me.

3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master's feeding trough,
[but] Israel does not know;
My people do not understand."

4 Oh sinful nation,
people weighed down with iniquity,
brood of evildoers,
depraved children!
They have abandoned the Lord;
they have despised the Holy One of Israel;
they have turned their backs [on Him].

5 Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep on rebelling?
The whole head is hurt,
and the whole heart is sick.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,
no spot is uninjured-
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.

7 Your land is desolate,
your cities burned with fire;
foreigners devour your fields
before your very eyes-
a desolation demolished by foreigners.
8 Daughter Zion is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.

9 If the Lord of Hosts
had not left us a few survivors,
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 "What are all your sacrifices to Me?"
asks the Lord.
"I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.
12 When you come to appear before Me,
who requires this from you-
[this] trampling of My courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings.
[Your] incense is detestable to Me.
New Moons and Sabbaths,
and the calling of solemn assemblies-
I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to Me;
I am tired of putting up with [them].

15 When you lift up your hands [in prayer],
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.

Purification of Jerusalem

16 "Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.
Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil.

17 Learn to do what is good.
Seek justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow's cause.

18 "Come, let us discuss this,"
says the Lord.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 The faithful city-
what an adulteress she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her-
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross,
your beer is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow's case never comes before them.

24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
"Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;
I will take revenge against My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you
and will burn away your dross completely;
I will remove all your impurities.

26 I will restore your judges to what they once were,
and your advisers to their former state.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,
a Faithful City."

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
her repentant ones by righteousness.
28 But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29 Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired,
and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens
you have chosen.
30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water.

31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench [the flames].

Isaiah 1

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged and gone backward.5 Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.7 Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.9 Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.10 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.11 What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts?13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting.14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them.15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;17 learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.24 Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies;25 and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin;26 and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town.27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.28 But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.31 And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.