1 The vision a concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah b son of Amoz saw during the reigns A,B of Kings Uzziah, c Jotham, d Ahaz, e and Hezekiah f of Judah. g
Judah on Trial
2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, h
for the LORD has spoken:
“I have raised children C and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me. i
and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,
but Israel does not know;
my people do not understand.” j
people weighed down with iniquity, k
brood of evildoers, l
depraved children!
They have abandoned m the LORD;
they have despised n the Holy One of Israel; o
they have turned their backs on him.
5 Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep on rebelling?
The whole head is hurt,
and the whole heart is sick.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, p
no spot is uninjured q—
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.
your cities burned down; r
foreigners devour your fields
right in front of you—
a desolation, like a place demolished by foreigners.
8 Daughter Zion s is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
9 If the LORD of Armies t
had not left us a few survivors, u
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah. v
10 Hear the word of the LORD, w
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! x
11 “What are all your sacrifices to me? ”
asks the LORD.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats. y
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you—
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings. z
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths, a
and the calling of solemn assemblies b—
I cannot stand iniquity c with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, d
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen. e
Your hands are covered with blood. f
Purification of Jerusalem
16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. g
Remove your evil deeds from my sight.
Stop doing evil. h
Pursue justice. i
Correct the oppressor. D
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.
18 “Come, let us settle this,” j
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow; k
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land. l
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.” m
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. n
21 The faithful town—
what an adulteress E she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her,
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross to be discarded,
your beer F is diluted with water.
friends of thieves. o
They all love graft
and chase after bribes. p
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them. q
24 Therefore the Lord GOD of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get even with my foes;
I will take revenge against my enemies. r
25 I will turn my hand against you s
and will burn away your dross completely; G
I will remove all your impurities. t
26 I will restore your judges u to what they were at first, H
and your advisers to what they were at the start. I
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, v
a Faithful Town.”
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
those who repent, by righteousness. w
28 At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken,
and those who abandon the LORD will perish.
29 Indeed, they J will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired, x
and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines
you have chosen. y
30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water. z
31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together, a
with no one to extinguish the flames. b