Isaiah 1:9-31

9Except the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.1 12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?2 13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.3 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble to me; I am weary of bearing them . 15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.45

16Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; 17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.6 18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19If ye are willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it .

21How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come to them. 24Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will rid myself of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies: 25And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:7 26And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.8 28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.9 29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31And the strong shall be as a wick, and its maker as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them .10