Isaiah 1:11–20

¹¹The Lord says,

“I do not want all these sacrifices.

I have had enough of your burnt sacrifices

of male sheep and fat from fine animals.

I am not pleased

by the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.

¹²You come to meet with me,

but who asked you to do

all this running in and out of my Temple’s rooms?

¹³Don’t continue bringing me worthless sacrifices!

I hate the incense you burn.

I can’t stand your New Moons, Sabbaths, and other feast days;

I can’t stand the evil you do in your holy meetings.

¹⁴I hate your New Moon feasts

and your other yearly feasts.

They have become a heavy weight on me,

and I am tired of carrying it.

¹⁵When you raise your arms to me in prayer,

I will refuse to look at you.

Even if you say many prayers,

I will not listen to you,

because your hands are full of blood.

¹⁶Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.

Stop doing the evil things I see you do.

Stop doing wrong.

¹⁷Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Punish those who hurt others.

Help the orphans.

Stand up for the rights of widows.”

¹⁸The 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.

¹⁹If you become willing and obey me,

you will eat good crops from the land.

²⁰But 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.