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, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for Yahweh has spoken: “I have reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.”

3An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's feeding trough; Israel does not know; my people do not understand.

4Ah, sinful nation, a people heavy with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned backward.

5Why should you be struck again? You continue in rebellion. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint.

6From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it—only wounds and bruises and fresh blows; they have not been pressed out, or bandaged, or softened with oil.

7Your land is a desolation; your cities are burned with fire. Your soil—before your very eyes—strangers are devouring it, and it is a desolation, like an overthrow by strangers.

8And daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9If Yahweh of hosts had not left us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom; we would have resembled Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom; give ear to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah.

11Why are your many sacrifices to me? says Yahweh. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals; and in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats I do not delight.

12When you come to appear before me, who has required this from your hand: trampling my courts?

13Do not continue bringing worthless grain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of an assembly—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

15And when you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you; even though you multiply prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood.

16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean. Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. Stop doing evil.

17Learn to do good; seek justice, correct the oppressor; judge for the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18Come now, and let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins are like scarlet, they will become white like snow; though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.

19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good 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 lodged in her, but now murderers.

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

23Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; every one of them loves a bribe and runs after payments. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow’s case does not come before them.

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

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

26And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city.

27Zion will be redeemed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness.

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

29For you will be ashamed of the oaks that you desired, and you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you chose.

30For you will be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden that has no water.

31The strong man will become tinder, and his work a spark; both of them will burn together, with no one to quench them.