Chapter 1

Rebellion of God’s People

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning aJudah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the 1reigns of bUzziah, cJotham, dAhaz and eHezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 aListen, O heavens, and hear, O bearth;

For the Lord speaks,

“cSons I have reared and brought up,

But they have drevolted against Me.

3 “An ox knows its owner,

And a donkey its master’s manger,

But Israel adoes not know,

My people bdo not understand.”

4 Alas, sinful nation,

People weighed down with iniquity,

1aOffspring of evildoers,

Sons who bact corruptly!

They have cabandoned the Lord,

They have ddespised the Holy One of Israel,

They have turned away 2from Him.

5 Where will you be stricken again,

As you acontinue in your rebellion?

The whole head is bsick

And the whole heart is faint.

6 aFrom the sole of the foot even to the head

There is bnothing sound in it,

Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,

cNot pressed out or bandaged,

Nor softened with oil.

7 Your aland is desolate,

Your cities are burned with fire,

Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence;

It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,

Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9 aUnless the Lord of hosts

Had left us a few bsurvivors,

We would be like cSodom,

We would be like Gomorrah.

God Has Had Enough

10 Hear athe word of the Lord,

You rulers of bSodom;

Give ear to the instruction of our God,

You people of Gomorrah.

11 “aWhat are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”

Says the Lord.

“I 1have 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.

12 “When you come ato appear before Me,

Who requires 1of you this trampling of My courts?

13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer,

aIncense is an abomination to Me.

bNew moon and sabbath, the ccalling of assemblies—

I cannot dendure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your aappointed feasts,

They have become a burden to Me;

I am bweary of bearing them.

15 “So when you aspread out your hands in prayer,

bI will hide My eyes from you;

Yes, even though you cmultiply prayers,

I will not listen.

dYour hands are 1covered with blood.

16 “aWash yourselves, bmake yourselves clean;

cRemove the evil of your deeds from My sight.

dCease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good;

aSeek justice,

Reprove the ruthless,

1bDefend the orphan,

Plead for the widow.

“Let Us Reason”

18 “Come now, and alet us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“bThough your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool.

19 “aIf you consent and obey,

You will beat the best of the land;

20 “But if you refuse and rebel,

You will be adevoured by the sword.”

Truly, bthe mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Zion Corrupted, to be Redeemed

21 How the faithful city has become a aharlot,

She who was full of justice!

Righteousness once lodged in her,

But now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross,

Your drink diluted with water.

23 Your arulers are rebels

And companions of thieves;

Everyone bloves a bribe

And chases after rewards.

They cdo not 1defend the 2orphan,

Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord 1God of hosts,

The aMighty One of Israel, declares,

“Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries

And bavenge Myself on My foes.

25 “I will also turn My hand against you,

And will asmelt away your dross as with lye

And will remove all your alloy.

26 “Then I will restore your ajudges as at the first,

And your counselors as at the beginning;

After that you will be called the bcity of righteousness,

A faithful city.”

27 Zion will be aredeemed with justice

And her 1repentant ones with righteousness.

28 But 1transgressors and sinners will be acrushed together,

And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.

29 Surely 1you will be ashamed of the 2aoaks which you have desired,

And you will be embarrassed at the bgardens which you have chosen.

30 For you will be like an 1oak whose aleaf fades away

Or as a garden that has no water.

31 The strong man will become tinder,

His work also a spark.

Thus they shall both aburn together

And there will be bnone to quench them.