Isaiah 1:11–20

¹¹What is the abundance of your sacrifices to me? says Yahweh.

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of fattened animals

and I do not delight in the blood of bulls

and ram-lambs and goats.

¹²When you come to appear before me,

who asked for this from your hand:

you trampling my courts?

¹³You must not continue^c to bring offerings^d of futility,

incense—it is an abomination to me;

new moon and Sabbath, the calling of a convocation—

I cannot endure iniquity with solemn assembly.

¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates;

they have become to me like a burden,

I am not able to bear them.

¹⁵And when you stretch out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,^e

I will not be listening.

Your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶Wash! Make yourselves clean!

Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes!

Cease to do evil! ¹⁷Learn 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.

¹⁹If you are willing and you are obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land.

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

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”