Isaiah 1:10–31

10 Hear the word of the Lord,o

you rulers of Sodom;p

listen to the instructionq of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!r

11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—

what are they to me?” says the Lord.

“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,

of rams and the fat of fattened animals;s

I have no pleasuret

in the blood of bullsu and lambs and goats.v

12 When you come to appear before me,

who has asked this of you,w

this trampling of my courts?

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!x

Your incensey is detestablez to me.

New Moons,a Sabbaths and convocationsb—

I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

14 Your New Moonc feasts and your appointed festivalsd

I hate with all my being.e

They have become a burden to me;f

I am wearyg of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your handsh in prayer,

I hidei my eyes from you;

even when you offer many prayers,

I am not listening.j

Your handsk are full of blood!l

16 Washm and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;n

stop doing wrong.o

17 Learn to do right;p seek justice.q

Defend the oppressed.a r

Take up the cause of the fatherless;s

plead the case of the widow.t

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

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;v

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.w

19 If you are willing and obedient,x

you will eat the good things of the land;y

20 but if you resist and rebel,z

you will be devoured by the sword.”a

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.b

21 See how the faithful city

has become a prostitute!c

She once was full of justice;

righteousnessd used to dwell in her—

but now murderers!e

22 Your silver has become dross,f

your choice wine is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels,g

partners with thieves;h

they all love bribesi

and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;

the widow’s case does not come before them.j

24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,

the Mighty Onek of Israel, declares:

“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes

and avengel myself on my enemies.m

25 I will turn my hand against you;b n

I will thoroughly purgeo away your drossp

and remove all your impurities.q

26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,r

your rulers as at the beginning.

Afterward you will be calleds

the City of Righteousness,t

the Faithful City.u”

27 Zion will be delivered with justice,

her penitentv ones with righteousness.w

28 But rebels and sinnersx will both be broken,

and those who forsakey the Lord will perish.z

29 “You will be ashameda because of the sacred oaksb

in which you have delighted;

you will be disgraced because of the gardensc

that you have chosen.

30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves,d

like a garden without water.

31 The mighty man will become tinder

and his work a spark;

both will burn together,

with no one to quench the fire.e”