Isaiah 1:20–23

20 but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 See how the faithful city

has become a prostitute!

She once was full of justice;

righteousness used to dwell in her—

but now murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross,

your choice wine is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,

partners with thieves;

they all love bribes

and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;

the widow’s case does not come before them.

20 But if ye refuse and rebel,

Ye shall be devoured with the sword:

For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

21 How is the faithful city become an harlot!

It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it;

But now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross,

Thy wine mixed with water:

23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves:

Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards:

They judge not the fatherless,

Neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,

you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

21 See how Jerusalem, once so faithful,

has become a prostitute.

Once the home of justice and righteousness,

she is now filled with murderers.

22 Once like pure silver,

you have become like worthless slag.

Once so pure,

you are now like watered-down wine.

23 Your leaders are rebels,

the companions of thieves.

All of them love bribes

and demand payoffs,

but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans

or fight for the rights of widows.

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

You shall be devoured by the sword”;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!

It was full of justice;

Righteousness lodged in it,

But now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross,

Your wine mixed with water.

23 Your princes are rebellious,

And companions of thieves;

Everyone loves bribes,

And follows after rewards.

They do not defend the fatherless,

Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

20 But if you refuse to obey and if you turn against me,

you will be destroyed by your enemies’ swords.”

The Lord himself said these things.

21 The city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord,

but she is no longer loyal to him.

She used to be filled with fairness;

people there lived the way God wanted.

But now, murderers live there.

22 Jerusalem, you have become like the scum left when silver is purified;

you are like wine mixed with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels

and friends of thieves.

They all accept money for doing wrong,

and they are paid to cheat people.

They don’t seek justice for the orphans

or listen to the widows’ needs.

20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. 23 Thy 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 unto them.

20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness used to lodge in it, but now murderers. 22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine is mixed with water: 23 thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth presents, and hunteth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh not unto them.

20 But if you refuse and rebel, 

you will be destroyed by swords.” 

The Lord has spoken. 

21 How the faithful town has become a prostitute! 

She was full of justice, 

and righteousness lived in her. 

But now murderers live there! 

22 Your silver is not pure. 

Your wine is watered down. 

23 Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves. 

They all love bribes and run after gifts. 

They never defend orphans. 

They don’t notice the widows’ pleas. 

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 The faithful city—

what an adulteress she has become!

She was once full of justice.

Righteousness once dwelt in her—

but now, murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross,

your beer is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,

friends of thieves.

They all love graft

and chase after bribes.

They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,

and the widow’s case never comes before them.

20 but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be devoured by the sword,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 How the faithful city

has become a prostitute!

She that was full of justice,

righteousness lodged in her—

but now murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross;

your wine is mixed with water.

23 Your princes are rebels

and companions of thieves.

Everyone loves a bribe

and runs after gifts.

They do not defend the orphan,

and the widow’s cause does not come before them.

20 But if you refuse and you rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

21 How has a faithful city become like a whore?

Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22 Your silver has become as dross;

Your wine is diluted with waters.

23 Your princes are rebels

and companions of thieves.

Every one loves a bribe

and runs after gifts.

They do not defend the orphan

and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.

20 You must follow me. You must obey me.

If you do not, you will be killed with swords.”

The Lord has spoken.

21 See how the faithful city of Jerusalem

has become like a prostitute!

Once it was full of people who treated others fairly.

Those who did what was right used to live in it.

But now murderers live there!

22 Jerusalem, your silver isn’t pure anymore.

Your best wine has been made weak with water.

23 Your rulers refuse to obey the Lord.

They are companions of robbers.

All of them love to accept money from those who want special favors.

They are always looking for gifts from other people.

They don’t stand up in court for children whose fathers have died.

They don’t do it for widows either.

20 “But if you refuse and rebel,

You will be devoured by the sword.”

Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot,

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 rulers are rebels

And companions of thieves;

Everyone loves a bribe

And chases after rewards.

They do not defend the orphan,

Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.