Isaiah 1:22-31

22Your silver is not pure. Your wine is watered down.

23Your 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.

24That’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.

25I will turn my power against you. I will remove your impurities with bleach. I will get rid of all your impurities.

26I 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.”

27Zion will be pardoned by ⌞the Lord’s⌟ justice, and those who return will be pardoned by ⌞the Lord’s⌟ righteousness.

28Rebels and sinners will be crushed at the same time, and those who abandon the Lord will come to an end.

29You will be ashamed of the oaks that you wanted to worship and embarrassed by the garden that you have chosen for your gods.

30You will be like an oak whose leaves wither and like a garden without water.

31Strong 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.