The Book of the Prophet
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,
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
his master’s crib;
but Israel doesn’t
know.
My people don’t
consider.”
4 Ah
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 backward.
5 Why
should you be
beaten more,
that you revolt
more and more?
The whole head
is sick,
and the whole
heart faint.
6 From
the sole of
the foot even
to the head
there is no
soundness in it,
but wounds, welts,
and open sores.
They haven’t been
closed, 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 Unless
the LORD of
Armies had left
to us a
very small remnant,
we would have
been as Sodom.
We would have
been like Gomorrah.
10 Hear
the LORD’s word,
you rulers of
Sodom!
Listen to the
law of our
God,
you people of
Gomorrah!
11 “What
are the multitude
of your sacrifices
to me?”, says the
LORD.
“I have had
enough of the
burnt offerings of
rams
and the fat
of fed animals.
I don’t delight
in the blood
of bulls,
or of lambs,
or of male
goats.
12 When
you come to appear
before me,
who has required
this at your
hand, to trample
my courts?
13 Bring
no more vain
offerings.
Incense is an
abomination to me.
New moons,
Sabbaths, and
convocations—
I can’t stand evil
assemblies.
14 My
soul hates 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
make many prayers,
I will not
hear.
Your hands are
full of blood.
16 Wash
yourselves. Make yourself
clean.
Put away the
evil of your
doings from before
my eyes.
Cease to do
evil.
17 Learn
to do well.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the
fatherless.
Plead for
the widow.”
18 “Come
now, and let’s
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 LORD’s
mouth has spoken
it.”
21 How
the faithful city
has become a
prostitute!
She was full of
justice.
Righteousness lodged
in her,
but now there
are murderers.
22 Your
silver has become
dross,
your wine mixed
with water.
23 Your
princes are
rebellious and
companions of
thieves.
Everyone loves bribes
and follows after
rewards.
They don’t defend
the fatherless,
neither does the
cause of the widow
come to them.
24 Therefore
the Lord,
GOD of Armies,
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 dross,
and will take
away all
your tin.
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
as an oak whose
leaf fades,
and as 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.”