Judah’s Rebellion
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, heavens
and listen earth, for the Lord has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows his owner,
and the donkey, the stall where he is fed,
but Israel does not know.
My people do not understand.”
4 Oh sinful nation,
a people loaded with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the Lord.
They have despised the Holy One of Israel.
They are estranged and have turned their backs on him.
5 Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you continue to rebel?
The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart is diseased.
6 From the sole of the foot to the head nothing is healthy,
only wounds, welts, and open sores
that have not been cleaned, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
7 Your country is desolate.
Your cities are burned with fire.
Strangers devour your land in your presence
and it is desolate,
as overthrown by strangers.
8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut in a field of melons,
like a besieged city.
9 If the Lord of Hosts had not left to us a very small remnant,
we would have been as Sodom.
We would have been like Gomorrah.
Meaningless Offerings
10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
11 “What are the multitude of all your sacrifices to me?”, says the Lord.
“I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fed animals.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs,
or of male goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this of you, this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more useless offerings.
Incense is an abomination to me.
New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations,
I cannot stand this. It is sin, even the solemn assemblies.
14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts.
They are a burden to me.
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you.
Yes, when you pray many prayers, I will not hear you.
Your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean.
Put away the evil deeds from before my eyes.
Stop doing evil.
17 Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead for the widow.”
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord:
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good of the land,
20 but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”
Zion Corrupted
21 How the faithful city has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice.
Righteousness was lodged in her,
but now murderers.
22 Your silver is no longer pure,
your wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves bribes and chases after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
nor does the cause of the widow come to them.
24 Therefore the Lord, God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, says,
“Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries
and avenge myself on my enemies.
25 I will turn my hand on you,
thoroughly purge away your impurity
and will take away all your dross.
26 I will restore your judges as at the first
and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall 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 those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,
and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be like an oak whose leaf fades
and like a garden that has no water.
31 The strong will be like tinder,
and his work like a spark.
They will both burn together,
and no one will quench them.”