Isaiah 1

Rebellion of God’s People

1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning 1Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the 2reigns of 3Uzziah, 4Jotham, 5Ahaz and 6Hezekiah, kings of Judah.27Listen, O heavens, and hear, O 8earth; For the Lord speaks, “9Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have 10revolted against Me.3An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel 11does not know, My people 12do not understand.”

4Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, 1314Offspring of evildoers, Sons who 15act corruptly! They have 16abandoned the Lord, They have 17despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away 18from Him.

5Where will you be stricken again, As you 19continue in your rebellion? The whole head is 20sick And the whole heart is faint.621From the sole of the foot even to the head There is 22nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, 23Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7Your 24land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields--strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.8The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.925Unless the Lord of hosts Had left us a few 26survivors, We would be like 27Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

God Has Had Enough

10Hear 28the word of the Lord, You rulers of 29Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah.11“30What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I 31have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.12When you come 32to appear before Me, Who requires 33of you this trampling of My courts?13Bring your worthless offerings no longer, 34Incense is an abomination to Me. 35New moon and sabbath, the 36calling of assemblies-- I cannot 37endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.14I hate your new moon festivals and your 38appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am 39weary of bearing them.15So when you 40spread out your hands in prayer, 41I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you 42multiply prayers, I will not listen. 43Your hands are 44covered with blood.

16“45Wash yourselves, 46make yourselves clean; 47Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. 48Cease to do evil,17Learn to do good; 49Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, 5051Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

“Let Us Reason”

18“Come now, and 52let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “53Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.1954If you consent and obey, You will 55eat the best of the land;20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be 56devoured by the sword.” Truly, 57the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Zion Corrupted, to Be Redeemed

21How the faithful city has become a 58harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.22Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water.23Your 59rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone 60loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They 61do not 62defend the 63orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

24Therefore the Lord 64God of hosts, The 65Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries And 66avenge Myself on My foes.25I will also turn My hand against you, And will 67smelt away your dross as with lye And will remove all your alloy.26Then I will restore your 68judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the 69city of righteousness, A faithful city.”

27Zion will be 70redeemed with justice And her 71repentant ones with righteousness.28But 72transgressors and sinners will be 73crushed together, And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.29Surely 74you will be ashamed of the 7576oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the 77gardens which you have chosen.30For you will be like an 78oak whose 79leaf fades away Or as a garden that has no water.31The strong man will become tinder, His work also a spark. Thus they shall both 80burn together And there will be 81none to quench them.