Isaiah 1:1–17

The vision ^aconcerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah ^bson of Amoz saw during the reigns ^cdof Uzziah, ^eJotham, ^fAhaz, ^gand Hezekiah, ^hkings of Judah. ⁱ

Judah on Trial

²Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, ^j

for the Lord has spoken:

“I have raised children ^kand brought them up,

but they have rebelled against Me. ^l

³The ox knows its owner,

and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,

but Israel does not know;

My people do not understand.” ^m

⁴Oh sinful nation,

people weighed down with iniquity, ⁿ

brood of evildoers, ^o

depraved children! ^p

They have abandoned ^qthe Lord;

they have despised ^rthe Holy One of Israel; ^s

they have turned their backs on Him.

⁵Why do you want more beatings?

Why do you keep on rebelling?

The whole head is hurt,

and the whole heart is sick.

⁶From the sole of the foot even to the head, ^t

no spot is uninjured ^u—

wounds, welts, and festering sores

not cleansed, bandaged,

or soothed with oil.

⁷Your land is desolate,

your cities burned with fire; ^v

foreigners devour your fields

before your very eyes—

a desolation demolished by foreigners.

⁸Daughter Zion ^wis abandoned

like a shelter in a vineyard,

like a shack in a cucumber field,

like a besieged city.

⁹If the Lord of Hosts ^x

had not left us a few survivors, ^y

we would be like Sodom,

we would resemble Gomorrah. ^z

¹⁰Hear the word of the Lord, ^a

you rulers of Sodom!

Listen to the instruction of our God,

you people of Gomorrah! ^b

¹¹“What are all your sacrifices to Me?”

asks the Lord.

“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams

and the fat of well-fed cattle;

I have no desire for the blood of bulls,

lambs, or male goats. ^c

¹²When you come to appear before Me,

who requires this from you—

this trampling of My courts?

¹³Stop bringing useless offerings. ^d

Your incense is detestable to Me.

New Moons and Sabbaths, ^e

and the calling of solemn assemblies ^f—

I cannot stand iniquity ^gwith a festival.

¹⁴I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.

They have become a burden to Me;

I am tired of putting up with them.

¹⁵When you lift up your hands in prayer, ^h

I will refuse to look at you;

even if you offer countless prayers,

I will not listen. ⁱ

Your hands are covered with blood. ^j

Purification of Jerusalem

¹⁶“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. ^k

Remove your evil deeds from My sight.

Stop doing evil. ^l

¹⁷Learn to do what is good.

Seek justice. ^m

Correct the oppressor. ⁿ

Defend the rights of the fatherless.

Plead the widow’s cause.