Isaiah 1:9-31

91If the Lord of armies Had not left us a few 2survivors, We would be like 3Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

10Hear 4the word of the Lord, You rulers of 5Sodom; Listen to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah!11“6What are your many sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I 7have 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 8to appear before Me, Who requires 9of you this trampling of My courtyards?13Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, 10Incense is an abomination to Me. 11New moon and Sabbath, the 12proclamation of an assembly-- I cannot 13endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.1414I hate your new moon festivals and your 15appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am 16tired of bearing them.15So when you 17spread out your hands in prayer, 18I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you 19offer many prayers, I will not be listening. 20Your hands are 21covered with blood.

16“22Wash yourselves, 23make yourselves clean; 24Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. 25Stop doing evil,17Learn to do good; 26Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, 27Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.

18“Come now, and 28let us 29debate your case,” Says the Lord, “30Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.1931If you are willing and obedient, You will 32eat the best of the land;20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be 33devoured by the sword.” For 34the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21How the faithful city has become a 35prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.22Your silver has become 36waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.23Your 37rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone 38loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They 39do not obtain justice for the 40orphan, Nor does the widow’s case come before them.

24Therefore the Lord 41God of armies, The 42Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And 43avenge Myself on My enemies.25I will also turn My hand against you, And 44smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.26Then I will restore your 45judges as at first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the 46city of righteousness, A faithful city.”

27Zion will be 47redeemed with justice And her 48repentant ones with righteousness.28But 49wrongdoers and sinners together will be 50broken, And those who abandon the Lord will come to an end.2951You certainly will be ashamed of the 5253oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed by the 54gardens which you have chosen.30For you will be like an 55oak whose 56leaf withers away, Or like a garden that has no water.31The strong man will become like 57flax fiber, And his work a spark. So they shall both 58burn together And there will be 59no one to extinguish them.