16 Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land;

20 but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well;

Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,

Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come 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.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel,

Ye shall be devoured with the sword:

For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

16 Wash yourselves and be clean!

Get your sins out of my sight.

Give up your evil ways.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Help the oppressed.

Defend the cause of orphans.

Fight for the rights of widows.

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

I will make them as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson,

I will make them as white as wool.

19 If you will only obey me,

you will have plenty to eat.

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!”

16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.

Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Rebuke the oppressor;

Defend the fatherless,

Plead for the widow.

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

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They shall be as wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

You shall eat the good of the land;

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

You shall be devoured by the sword”;

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

16 Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.

Stop doing the evil things I see you do.

Stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Punish those who hurt others.

Help the orphans.

Stand up for the rights of widows.”

18 The Lord says,

“Come, let us talk about these things.

Though your sins are like scarlet,

they can be as white as snow.

Though your sins are deep red,

they can be white like wool.

19 If you become willing and obey me,

you will eat good crops from the land.

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.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; —cease to do evil, 17 learn to do well: seek judgment, gladden the oppressed, do justice to the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and hearken, ye shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

16 “Wash yourselves! Become clean! 

Get your evil deeds out of my sight. 

Stop doing evil. 

17 Learn to do good. 

Seek justice. 

Arrest oppressors. 

Defend orphans. 

Plead the case of widows.” 

18 “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord. 

“Though your sins are bright red, 

they will become as white as snow. 

Though they are dark red, 

they will become as white as wool. 

19 If you are willing and obedient, 

you will eat the best from the land. 

20 But if you refuse and rebel, 

you will be destroyed by swords.” 

The Lord has spoken. 

16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.

Remove your evil deeds from My sight.

Stop doing evil.

17 Learn to do what is good.

Seek justice.

Correct the oppressor.

Defend the rights of the fatherless.

Plead the widow’s cause.

18 “Come, let us discuss this,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they will be as white as snow;

though they are as red as crimson,

they will be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your doings

from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

17 learn to do good;

seek justice,

rescue the oppressed,

defend the orphan,

plead for the widow.

18 Come now, let us argue it out,

says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be like snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

20 but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be devoured by the sword;

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

16 Wash! Make yourselves clean!

Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes!

Cease to do evil! 17 Learn to do good!

Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed!

Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow!

18 “Come now, and let us argue,” says Yahweh.

“Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow;

even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

19 If you are willing and you are obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land.

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

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

16 So wash your hands. Make yourselves clean.

Get your evil actions out of my sight!

Stop doing what is wrong!

17 Learn to do what is right!

Treat people fairly.

Give hope to those who are beaten down.

Cheer them up.

Stand up in court for children whose fathers have died.

And do the same thing for widows.

18 “Come. Let us talk some more about this matter,”

says the Lord.

“Even though your sins are bright red,

they will be as white as snow.

Even though they are deep red,

they will be white like wool.

19 But you have to be willing to change and obey me.

If you are, you will eat the best food that grows on the land.

20 You must follow me. You must obey me.

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

The Lord has spoken.

16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.

Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Reprove the ruthless,

Defend the orphan,

Plead for the widow.

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

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool.

19 “If you consent and obey,

You will eat the best of the land;

20 “But if you refuse and rebel,

You will be devoured by the sword.”

Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.