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, heavens, and hear, 8earth; For the Lord has spoken: “9Sons I have raised 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.”

4Oh, sinful nation, People weighed down with guilt, 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 entire head is 20sick And the entire heart is faint.621From the sole of the foot even to the head There is 22nothing healthy in it, Only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; 23Not pressed out nor bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7Your 24land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; As for your fields, strangers are devouring them in front of you; 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 city under watch.925If the Lord of armies Had not 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; Listen to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah!11“30What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I 31have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened 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 courtyards?13Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, 34Incense is an abomination to Me. 35New moon and Sabbath, the 36proclamation of an assembly-- I cannot 37endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.1438I hate your new moon festivals and your 39appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am 40tired of bearing them.15So when you 41spread out your hands in prayer, 42I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you 43offer many prayers, I will not be listening. 44Your hands are 45covered with blood.

16“46Wash yourselves, 47make yourselves clean; 48Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. 49Stop doing evil,17Learn to do good; 50Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, 51Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.

Invitation to Debate

18“Come now, and 52let us 53debate your case,” Says the Lord, “54Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.1955If you are willing and obedient, You will 56eat the best of the land;20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be 57devoured by the sword.” For 58the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Zion Corrupted; Will Be Redeemed

21How the faithful city has become a 59prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.22Your silver has become 60waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.23Your 61rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone 62loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They 63do not obtain justice for the 64orphan, Nor does the widow’s case come before them.

24Therefore the Lord 65God of armies, The 66Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And 67avenge Myself on My enemies.25I will also turn My hand against you, And 68smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.26Then I will restore your 69judges as at first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the 70city of righteousness, A faithful city.”

27Zion will be 71redeemed with justice And her 72repentant ones with righteousness.28But 73wrongdoers and sinners together will be 74broken, And those who abandon the Lord will come to an end.2975You certainly will be ashamed of the 7677oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed by the 78gardens which you have chosen.30For you will be like an 79oak whose 80leaf withers away, Or like a garden that has no water.31The strong man will become like 81flax fiber, And his work a spark. So they shall both 82burn together And there will be 83no one to extinguish them.