Isaiah 1

1The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Hear, you heavens, and listen, you earth, for Yahweh has spoken: I raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.

3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.

4Woe to the sinful nation, a people weighed down with guilt, offspring of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned away and gone backward.

5Why should you be beaten any more? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint.

6From the sole of the foot to the head there is nothing sound in it—only wounds and welts and fresh sores, not cleaned, not bandaged, not soothed with oil.

7Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Before your eyes foreigners devour your fields, and it is desolate, as if overthrown by foreigners.

8Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege.

9If Yahweh of Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom; we would have been like Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11What are your many sacrifices to me? says Yahweh. I have had more than enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.

12When you come to appear before me, who asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

13Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! Incense is detestable to me. New moons and Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies—I cannot stand wickedness together with a solemn assembly.

14Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of carrying them.

15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even when you pray at length, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.

16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil.

17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the orphan. Plead the widow’s case.

18Come now, let us settle this, says Yahweh. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.

19If you are willing and obey, you will eat the good things of the land;

20but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.

21How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lived in her—but now murderers.

22Your silver has become dross; your wine is diluted with water.

23Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves. They all love a bribe and chase after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow’s case never comes before them.

24Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries and avenge myself on my enemies.

25I will turn my hand against you; I will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your impurities.

26I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After this you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.

27Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

28But rebels and sinners will be crushed together, and those who forsake Yahweh will come to an end.

29For they will be ashamed of the sacred oaks that you desired, and you will blush for the gardens that you chose.

30For you will be like an oak whose leaves are withering, like a garden that has no water.

31The strong man will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to put out the fire.