Isaiah 1:11–20

¹¹What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

says the Lord;

I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls

or of lambs or of goats.^*

¹²When you come to appear before me,^b

who asked this from your hand?

Trample my courts no more!^*

¹³Bringing offerings is futile;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation—

I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.^*

¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed festivals

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.^*

¹⁵When you stretch out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,

I will not listen;

your hands are full of blood.^*

¹⁶Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove your evil deeds

from before my eyes;

cease to do evil;^*

¹⁷learn to do good;

seek justice;

rescue the oppressed;

defend the orphan;

plead for the widow.^*

¹⁸Come now, let us argue it out,

says the Lord:

If your sins are like scarlet,

will they become like snow?

If they are red like crimson,

will they become like wool?^*

¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land,^*

²⁰but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be devoured by the sword,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^*