Isaiah 1:1–31

The vision a concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah b son of Amoz saw during the reigns c d of Uzziah, e Jotham, f Ahaz, g and Hezekiah, h kings of Judah. i

Judah on Trial

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

for the Lord has spoken:

“I have raised children k and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against Me. l

3 The ox knows its owner,

and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,

but Israel does not know;

My people do not understand.” m

4 Oh sinful nation,

people weighed down with iniquity, n

brood of evildoers, o

depraved children! p

They have abandoned q the Lord;

they have despised r the Holy One of Israel; s

they have turned their backs on Him.

5 Why do you want more beatings?

Why do you keep on rebelling?

The whole head is hurt,

and the whole heart is sick.

6 From 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.

7 Your land is desolate,

your cities burned with fire; v

foreigners devour your fields

before your very eyes—

a desolation demolished by foreigners.

8 Daughter * Zion w is abandoned

like a shelter in a vineyard,

like a shack in a cucumber field,

like a besieged city.

9 If the Lord of * Hosts x

had not left us a few survivors, y

we would be like Sodom,

we would resemble Gomorrah. z

10 Hear 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

12 When you come to appear before Me,

who requires this from you—

this trampling of My courts?

13 Stop 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 g with a festival.

14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.

They have become a burden to Me;

I am tired of putting up with them.

15 When 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

17 Learn to do what is good.

Seek justice. m

Correct the oppressor. n

Defend the rights of the fatherless.

Plead the widow’s cause.

18 “Come, let us discuss this,” o

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they will be as white as snow; p

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. q

20 But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.” r

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. s

21 The faithful city—

what an adulteress t she has become!

She was once full of justice.

Righteousness once dwelt in her—

but now, murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross, u

your beer v is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,

friends of thieves. w

They all love graft

and chase after bribes. x

They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,

and the widow’s case never comes before them. y

24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,

the Mighty One of Israel, declares:

“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;

I will take revenge against My enemies. z

25 I will turn My hand against you a

and will burn away your dross b completely; c

I will remove all your impurities. d

26 I will restore your judges e to what they once were, f

and your advisers to their former state. g

Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, h

a Faithful City.”

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,

her repentant ones by righteousness. i

28 But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed,

and those who abandon the Lord will perish.

29 Indeed, they j will be ashamed of the sacred trees

you desired, k

and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens

you have chosen. l

30 For you will become like an oak

whose leaves are withered,

and like a garden without water. m

31 The strong one will become tinder,

and his work a spark;

both will burn together, n

with no one to quench the flames. o