Isaiah 1

1The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw against Judah and Jerusalem in the kingdom of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth. For the Lord has spoken: 'I have begotten and brought up sons, but they rejected Me.

3The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know Me, and the people do not understand Me.'

4Alas, sinful nation, a people full of sins, an evil seed, lawless children. They forsook the Lord; they provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel.

5Why should you still be struck as you continue in lawlessness? The whole head is in pain, and the whole heart in sadness.

6From the feet all the way to the head, there is no soundness in them, only wounds and bruises and festering sores. They have not been closed or bandaged, or soothed with ointment.

7Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Strangers take over your land in your presence and it is made desolate, overthrown by foreign people.

8So the daughter of Zion is forsaken, like a tent in a vineyard, like a hut in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city.

9Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah:

11'What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?' says the Lord. 'I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of lambs. I do not desire the blood of bulls and he-goats.

12When you come to appear before Me, who required these things from your hands to tread My court?

13Although you should bring fine wheat flour, it is vain. Incense is an abomination to Me. I cannot endure your new moons, and Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies, and fasting and holy day.

14Your new moons and feasts My soul hates. You have become a dissatisfaction to Me; I will not forgive your sins.

15When you stretch forth your hands to Me, I will turn My eyes from you. Although you make many prayers, I will not listen to you. Your hands are full of blood.

16Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the evils from your souls before My eyes. Cease from your evils.

17Learn to do good. Seek judgment and redeem the wronged. Defend the orphan and justify the widow.

18Come now, and let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'although your sins are like crimson, I shall make them white like snow, and although they are as scarlet, I shall make them white like wool.

19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good things of the land.

20But if you are unwilling and disobedient, you shall be devoured by the sword,' for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21How the faithful city of Zion has become a prostitute! It was full of judgment. Righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.

22Your silver is worthless; your tavernkeepers mix wine with water.

23Your rulers are disobedient and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the orphans, nor do they regard the cause of the widow.

24Therefore says the Master, the Lord of hosts: 'Woe to the mighty ones of Israel, for My anger against the adversaries will not cease; and I will execute judgment on My enemies.

25I will bring My hand upon you and purge you completely. I will destroy those who disobey and remove all the lawless from you; I will humble all the arrogant.

26I will establish your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward, you shall be called the city of righteousness, Zion, the faithful mother-city.'

27For her captives shall be saved with judgment and with mercy.

28The lawless and sinners shall be destroyed together. Those who forsake the Lord shall come to an end.

29For they shall be ashamed of the idols they desired and the gardens they longed for.

30For they shall be as a terebinth tree that has lost its leaves; like a garden with no water.

31Their strength shall be as broken fiber and their works as sparks of fire. The lawless and the sinners will burn together, and no one shall quench them.