IsaiahChapter 1
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1This is the vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem. He saw it while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. 2Listen, heavens! Pay attention, earth!
For the LORD has spoken:
"I raised children and helped them grow up.
But they have turned against me. 3An ox knows its owner.
A donkey knows where its master feeds it.
But Israel does not know.
My people do not understand." 4How terrible for you, sinful nation!
You are a people loaded down with sin.
You are a family of evildoers,
children who do wicked things.
They have forsaken the LORD.
They have looked down on the Holy One of Israel.
They have turned their backs on him. 5Why do you want to be beaten again?
Why do you keep rebelling?
Your whole head has a terrible wound.
Your whole heart is sick. 6From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head,
nothing is healthy.
There are only wounds and welts and open sores.
They have not been cleaned or bandaged.
No oil has been put on them to ease the pain. 7Your land is ruined.
Your cities are burned with fire.
Foreigners eat up your fields right in front of you.
It is ruined, as when strangers tear a land down. 8The Daughter of Zion is left alone
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut in a field of cucumbers,
like a city surrounded by enemies. 9The LORD of Hosts left us a few survivors.
If he had not, we would have become like Sodom.
We would have been like Gomorrah. 10Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! 11"What good to me are all your sacrifices?" says the LORD.
"I have had more than enough burnt offerings of rams.
I have had enough fat from well-fed cattle.
I take no joy in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12You come to stand before me.
But who asked you to do this?
Who asked you to stomp through my courtyards? 13Stop bringing me worthless offerings!
Your incense is disgusting to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths, and holy meetings!
I cannot stand sin at a holy gathering. 14I hate your New Moons and your set feasts.
They have become a heavy load to me.
I am tired of carrying them. 15When you lift up your hands to pray,
I will hide my eyes from you.
Even if you pray many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood. 16Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight.
Stop doing evil! 17Learn to do what is right.
Work for justice.
Correct those who crush others.
Stand up for children who have no father.
Speak up for the widow in court." 18"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
"Even though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow.
Even though they are as red as crimson,
they will become like wool. 19If you are willing and you obey,
you will eat the best food of the land. 20But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be killed by the sword."
For the LORD himself has spoken. 21Look how the faithful city
has become a prostitute!
She was once full of justice.
What is right used to live in her.
But now only murderers live there! 22Your silver has become worthless scraps.
Your best wine is mixed with water. 23Your rulers are rebels.
They are friends of thieves.
All of them love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not stand up for children with no father.
The widow's case never even comes before them. 24So the Lord GOD of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
"Ah, I will get relief from my foes.
I will pay back my enemies. 25I will turn my hand against you.
I will burn away all your worthless scraps.
I will take away everything that is not pure. 26I will give you judges again like you had at first.
I will give you wise advisers like in the beginning.
After that you will be called
the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City." 27Zion will be redeemed by justice.
Those in her who turn back to God
will be redeemed by what is right. 28But rebels and sinners will be crushed together.
Those who forsake the LORD will perish. 29You will be ashamed of the sacred oak trees
that you loved so much.
You will be embarrassed by the gardens
that you chose. 30For you will be like an oak tree
with dried-up leaves.
You will be like a garden with no water. 31The strong man will become like dry kindling.
His work will be like a spark.
They will both burn together.
No one will put out the fire.