Isaiah 1
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have
nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; [but] Israel doth not
know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children
that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One
of Israel, they are estranged [and gone] backward.
5 Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is
sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it;
[but] wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither
bound up, neither mollified with oil.
7 Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land,
strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by
strangers.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a
garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9 Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have
been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our
God, ye people of Gomorrah.
11 What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had
enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight
not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to
trample my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and
sabbath, the calling of assemblies,-- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn
meeting. [
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble
unto me; I am weary of bearing them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea,
when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine
eyes; cease to do evil;
17 learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the
mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.
21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice!
righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth
bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth
the cause of the widow come unto them.
24 Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I
will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies;
25 and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and
will take away all thy tin;
26 and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the
beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful
town.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.
28 But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they
that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be
confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no
water.
31 And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both
burn together, and none shall quench them.