Isaiah 1

The vision^a concerning Judah and Jerusalem^b that Isaiah son of Amoz saw^c during the reigns of Uzziah,^d Jotham,^e Ahaz^f and Hezekiah,^g kings of Judah.

A Rebellious Nation

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!^a

For the Lord has spoken:^b

“I reared children^c and brought them up,

but they have rebelled^d against me.

The ox knows^e its master,

the donkey its owner’s manger,^f

but Israel does not know,^g

my people do not understand.^h”

Ah, sinful nation,

a people whose guilt is great,ⁱ

a brood of evildoers,^j

children given to corruption!^k

They have forsaken^l the Lord;

they have spurned the Holy One^m of Israel

and turned their backsⁿ on him.

Why should you be beaten^o anymore?

Why do you persist^p in rebellion?^q

Your whole head is injured,

your whole heart^r afflicted.^s

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head^t

there is no soundness^u—

only wounds and welts^v

and open sores,

not cleansed or bandaged^w

or soothed with oil.^x

Your country is desolate,^y

your cities burned with fire;^z

your fields are being stripped by foreigners^a

right before you,

laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.^b

Daughter Zion^c is left^d

like a shelter in a vineyard,

like a hut^e in a field of melons,

like a city under siege.

Unless the Lord Almighty

had left us some survivors,^f

we would have become like Sodom,

we would have been like Gomorrah.^g

Hear the word of the Lord,^h

you rulers of Sodom;ⁱ

listen to the instruction^j of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!^k

“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;^l

I have no pleasure^m

in the blood of bullsⁿ and lambs and goats.^o

When you come to appear before me,

who has asked this of you,^p

this trampling of my courts?

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^q

Your incense^r is detestable^s to me.

New Moons,^t Sabbaths and convocations^u—

I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

Your New Moon^v feasts and your appointed festivals^w

I hate with all my being.^x

They have become a burden to me;^y

I am weary^z of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands^a in prayer,

I will hide^b my eyes from you;

even if you offer many prayers,

I will not listen.^c

Your hands^d are full of blood;^e

wash^f and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds

out of my sight!^g

Stop doing wrong,^h

learn to do right!ⁱ

Seek justice,^j

encourage the oppressed.^k

Defend the cause of the fatherless,^l

plead the case of the widow.^m

“Come now, let us reason together,”ⁿ

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;^o

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.^p

If you are willing and obedient,^q

you will eat the best from the land;^r

but if you resist and rebel,^s

you will be devoured by the sword.”^t

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^u

See how the faithful city

has become a prostitute!^v

She once was full of justice;

righteousness^w used to dwell in her—

but now murderers!^x

Your silver has become dross,^y

your choice wine is diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels,^z

companions of thieves;^a

they all love bribes^b

and chase after gifts.

They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;

the widow’s case does not come before them.^c

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,

the Mighty One^d of Israel, declares:

“Ah, I will vent my wrath on my foes

and avenge^e myself on my enemies.^f

I will turn my hand against you;^g

I will thoroughly purge^h away your drossⁱ

and remove all your impurities.^j

I will restore your judges as in days of old,^k

your rulers as at the beginning.

Afterward you will be called^l

the City of Righteousness,^m

the Faithful City.ⁿ”

Zion will be delivered with justice,

her penitent^o ones with righteousness.^p

But rebels and sinners^q will both be broken,

and those who forsake^r the Lord will perish.^s

“You will be ashamed^t because of the sacred oaks^u

in which you have delighted;

you will be disgraced because of the gardens^v

that you have chosen.

You will be like an oak with fading leaves,^w

like a garden without water.

The mighty man will become tinder

and his work a spark;

both will burn together,

with no one to quench the fire.^x”