Isaiah 1:2-27

21Listen, heavens, and hear, 2earth; For the Lord has spoken: “3Sons I have raised 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.”

4Oh, sinful nation, People weighed down with guilt, 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 entire head is 14sick And the entire heart is faint.615From the sole of the foot even to the head There is 16nothing healthy in it, Only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; 17Not pressed out nor bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7Your 18land 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.919If the Lord of armies Had not 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; Listen to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah!11“24What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I 25have 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 26to appear before Me, Who requires 27of you this trampling of My courtyards?13Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, 28Incense is an abomination to Me. 29New moon and Sabbath, the 30proclamation of an assembly-- I cannot 31endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.1432I hate your new moon festivals and your 33appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am 34tired of bearing them.15So when you 35spread out your hands in prayer, 36I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you 37offer many prayers, I will not be listening. 38Your hands are 39covered with blood.

16“40Wash yourselves, 41make yourselves clean; 42Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. 43Stop doing evil,17Learn to do good; 44Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, 45Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.

18“Come now, and 46let us 47debate your case,” Says the Lord, “48Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.1949If you are willing and obedient, You will 50eat the best of the land;20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be 51devoured by the sword.” For 52the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21How the faithful city has become a 53prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.22Your silver has become 54waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.23Your 55rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone 56loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They 57do not obtain justice for the 58orphan, Nor does the widow’s case come before them.

24Therefore the Lord 59God of armies, The 60Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And 61avenge Myself on My enemies.25I will also turn My hand against you, And 62smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.26Then I will restore your 63judges as at first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the 64city of righteousness, A faithful city.”

27Zion will be 65redeemed with justice And her 66repentant ones with righteousness.