Isaiah 1:2-27

21Listen, O heavens, and hear, O 2earth; For the Lord speaks, “3Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have 4revolted against Me.3An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel 5does not know, My people 6do not understand.”

4Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, 78Offspring of evildoers, Sons who 9act corruptly! They have 10abandoned the Lord, They have 11despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away 12from Him.

5Where will you be stricken again, As you 13continue in your rebellion? The whole head is 14sick And the whole heart is faint.615From the sole of the foot even to the head There is 16nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, 17Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7Your 18land 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.919Unless the Lord of hosts Had left us a few 20survivors, We would be like 21Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

10Hear 22the word of the Lord, You rulers of 23Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah.11“24What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I 25have 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 26to appear before Me, Who requires 27of you this trampling of My courts?13Bring your worthless offerings no longer, 28Incense is an abomination to Me. 29New moon and sabbath, the 30calling of assemblies-- I cannot 31endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.14I hate your new moon festivals and your 32appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am 33weary of bearing them.15So when you 34spread out your hands in prayer, 35I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you 36multiply prayers, I will not listen. 37Your hands are 38covered with blood.

16“39Wash yourselves, 40make yourselves clean; 41Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. 42Cease to do evil,17Learn to do good; 43Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, 4445Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

18“Come now, and 46let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “47Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.1948If you consent and obey, You will 49eat the best of the land;20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be 50devoured by the sword.” Truly, 51the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21How the faithful city has become a 52harlot, 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 53rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone 54loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They 55do not 56defend the 57orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

24Therefore the Lord 58God of hosts, The 59Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries And 60avenge Myself on My foes.25I will also turn My hand against you, And will 61smelt away your dross as with lye And will remove all your alloy.26Then I will restore your 62judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the 63city of righteousness, A faithful city.”

27Zion will be 64redeemed with justice And her 65repentant ones with righteousness.