Isaiah 1:11–20

¹¹“What 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 he-goats.

¹²“When you come to appear before me,

who requires of you

this trampling of my courts?

¹³Bring no more vain offerings;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and sabbath and the calling of assemblies—

I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.

¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me,

I am weary of bearing them.

¹⁵When you spread forth 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 the evil of your doings

from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

¹⁷learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

defend the fatherless,

plead for the widow.

¹⁸“Come now, let us reason together,

says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall 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.”