Isaiah 1

1 This is the vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem at the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

The Lord Accuses Israel of Sin

2 Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth!The Lord has spoken,“I raised my children and helped them grow,but they have rebelled against me.3 Oxen know their owners,and donkeys know where their masters feed them.But Israel doesn’t know its owner.My people don’t understand who feeds them.4 “How horrible it will be for a nation that sins.Its people are loaded down with guilt.They are descendants of evildoersand destructive 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 still want to be beaten?Why do you continue to rebel?Your whole head is infected.Your whole heart is failing.6 From the bottom of your feet to the top of your headthere is no healthy spot left on your body—only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds.They haven’t been cleansed, bandaged,or soothed with oil.7 “Your country is devastated.Your cities are burned down.Your fields are destroyed right before your eyes by foreigners.Your fields are devastated and taken over by foreigners.8 My people Zion are left like a hut in a vineyard,like a shack in a cucumber field,like a city under attack.”9 If the Lord of Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors,we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Israel’s Corrupt Religion

10 Listen to the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom!Pay attention to the teachings from our God, you people of Gomorrah!11 The Lord asks, “What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me?I’ve had enough of your burnt offerings of ramsand enough fat from your fattened calves.I’m not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.12 When you appear in my presence,who asked you to trample on my courtyards?13 Don’t bring any more worthless grain offerings.Your incense is disgusting to me,so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship,and the assemblies you call.I can’t stand your evil assemblies.14 I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals.They’ve become a burden to me,and I’m tired of putting up with them.15 So when you stretch out your hands in prayer,I will turn my eyes away from you.Even though you offer many prayers,I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood.

The Lord Invites Israel to Turn Away From Sin

16 “Wash yourselves! Become clean!Get your evil deeds out of my sight.Stop doing evil.17 Learn to do good.Seek justice.Arrest oppressors.Defend orphans.Plead the case of widows.”18 “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord.“Though your sins are bright red,they will become as white as snow.Though they are dark red,they will become as white as wool.19 If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the best from the land.20 But if you refuse and rebel,you will be destroyed by swords.”The Lord has spoken.

Jerusalem’s Future

21 How the faithful town has become a prostitute!She was full of justice,and righteousness lived in her.But now murderers live there!22 Your silver is not pure.Your wine is watered down.23 Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves.They all love bribes and run after gifts.They never defend orphans.They don’t notice the widows’ pleas.24 That’s why the Lord, the Lord of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says,“How horrible it will be when I take revenge on my opponents!I will avenge myself against my enemies.25 I will turn my power against you.I will remove your impurities with bleach.I will get rid of all your impurities.26 I will give you judges like you had long ago,advisers like you had in the beginning.After that you will be called the Righteous City,the Faithful Town.”27 Zion will be pardoned by the Lord’s justice,and those who return will be pardonedby the Lord’s righteousness.28 Rebels and sinners will be crushed at the same time,and those who abandon the Lord will come to an end.29 You will be ashamed of the oaks that you wanted to worshipand embarrassed by the garden that you have chosen for your gods.30 You will be like an oak whose leaves witherand like a garden without water.31 Strong people will become tinder for a fire,and their work will be the spark.Both of them will burn together,and there will be no one to put out the fire.

Isaiah 1

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1 Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalems that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah.ts

Obedience, not Sacrifice

2 Listen, O heavens,
pay attention, O earth!s
For the Lord speaks:
“I raised children,ts I brought them up,s
buts they have rebelleds against me!

3 An ox recognizes its owner,
a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food;t
but Israel does not recognize me,t
my people do not understand.”

4 s The sinful nation is as good as dead,t
the people weighed down by evil deeds.
They are offspring who do wrong,
childrent who do wicked things.
They have abandoned the Lord,
and rejected the Holy One of Israel.s
They are alienated from him.t

5 s Why do you insist on being battered?
Why do you continue to rebel?t
Your head has a massive wound,t
your whole body is weak.t

6 From the soles of your feet to your head,
there is no spot that is unharmed.t
There are only bruises, cuts,
and open wounds.
They have not been cleansedt or bandaged,
nor have they been treatedt with olive oil.s

7 Your land is devastated,
your cities burned with fire.
Right before your eyes your crops
are being destroyed by foreign invaders.t
They leave behind devastation and destruction.t

8 Daughter Ziont is left isolated,
like a hut in a vineyard,
or a shelter in a cucumber field;
she is a besieged city.t

9 If the Lord who commands armiest had not left us a few survivors,
we would have quickly become like Sodom,s
we would have become like Gomorrah.

10 Listen to the Lord’s word,
you leaders of Sodom!s
Pay attention to our God’s rebuke,t
people of Gomorrah!

11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?”ts
says the Lord.
“I am stuffed witht burnt sacrifices
of rams and the fat from steers.
The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats
I do not want.s

12 When you enter my presence,
do you actually think I want this –
animals trampling on my courtyards?t

13 Do not bring any more meaninglesst offerings;
I consider your incense detestable!s
You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations,
but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!t

14 I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies;
they are a burden
that I am tired of carrying.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I look the other way;t
when you offer your many prayers,
I do not listen,
because your hands are covered with blood.s

16 s Wash! Cleanse yourselves!
Remove your sinful deedss
from my sight.
Stop sinning!

17 Learn to do what is right!
Promote justice!
Give the oppressed reason to celebrate!t
Take up the cause of the orphan!
Defend the rights of the widow!t

18 s Come, let’s consider your options,”t says the Lord.
“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,
you can becomet white like snow;
though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,
you can becomet white like wool.t

19 If you have a willing attitude and obey,t
then you will again eat the good crops of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoureds by the sword.”
Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.t

Purifying Judgment

21 How tragic that the once-faithful city
has become a prostitute!t
She was once a center oft justice,
fairness resided in her,
but now only murderers.t

22 Yourt silver has become scum,t
your beer is diluted with water.s

23 Your officials are rebels,t
they associate witht thieves.
All of them love bribery,
and look fort payoffs.s
They do not take up the cause of the orphan,s
or defend the rights of the widow.s

24 Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies,t
the powerful ruler of Israel,t says this:
“Ah, I will seek vengeancet against my adversaries,
I will take revenge against my enemies.s

25 I will attack you;t
I will purify your metal with flux.t
I will remove all your slag.s

26 I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,
wise advisers as in earlier days.t
Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,
Faithful Town.’”

27 s Zion will be freed by justice,t
and her returnees by righteousness.s

28 All rebellious sinners will be shattered,t
those who abandon the Lord will perish.

29 Indeed, theys will be ashamed of the sacred trees
yout find so desirable;
you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchardst
where you choose to worship.

30 For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,
like an orchardt that is unwatered.

31 The powerful will be liket a thread of yarn,
their deeds like a spark;
both will burn together,
and no one will put out the fire.