Isaiah 1

1The 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.

2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

4Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.footnote afootnote b

5Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.footnote c

6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.footnote d

7Your 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.footnote e

8And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

9Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full 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.footnote f

12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?footnote g

13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.footnote h

14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15And 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.footnote ifootnote j

16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.footnote k

18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

21How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

25And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:footnote l

26And 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, the faithful city.

27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.footnote m

28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.footnote n

29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

30For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

31And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.footnote o

Judah’s Rebellion

1This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,for the LORD has spoken:“I have raised children and brought them up,but they have rebelled against Me. 3The ox knows its owner,and the donkey its master’s manger,but Israel does not know;My people do not understand.”

4Alas, O sinful nation,a people laden with iniquity,a brood of evildoers,children who act corruptly!They have forsaken the LORD;they have despised the Holy One of Israeland turned their backs on Him.

5Why do you want more beatings?Why do you keep rebelling?Your head has a massive wound,and your whole heart is afflicted. 6From the sole of your foot to the top of your head,there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering soresneither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

7Your land is desolate;your cities are burned with fire.Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers. 8And the Daughter of Zion is abandonedlike a shelter in a vineyard,like a shack in a cucumber field,like a city besieged.

9Unless the LORD of Hostshad left us a few survivors,footnote awe would have become like Sodom,we would have resembled Gomorrah.footnote b

Meaningless Offerings

10Hear the word of the LORD,you rulers of Sodom;listen to the instruction of our God,you people of Gomorrah!

11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?”says the LORD.“I am full from the burnt offerings of ramsand the fat of well-fed cattle;I take no delight in the blood of bullsand lambs and goats. 12When you come to appear before Me,who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts?

13Bring your worthless offerings no more;your incense is detestable to Me.New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. 14I hate your New Moonsand your appointed feasts.They have become a burden to Me;I am weary of bearing them.

15When you spread out your hands in prayer,I will hide My eyes from you;even though you multiply your prayers,I will not listen.Your hands are covered with blood.

16Wash and cleanse yourselves.Remove your evil deeds from My sight.Stop doing evil! 17Learn to do right;seek justice and correct the oppressor.footnote cDefend the fatherlessand plead the case of the widow.”

18“Come now, let us reason together,”says the LORD.“Though your sins are like scarlet,they will be as white as snow;though they are as red as crimson,they will become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the best of the land. 20But if you resist and rebel,you will be devoured by the sword.”For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Corruption of Zion

21See how the faithful city has become a harlot!She once was full of justice;righteousness resided within her,but now only murderers! 22Your silver has become dross;your fine wine is diluted with water. 23Your rulers are rebels,friends of thieves.They all love bribesand chasing after rewards.They do not defend the fatherless,and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

24Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts,the Mighty One of Israel, declares:“Ah, I will be relieved of My foesand avenge Myself on My enemies. 25I will turn My hand against you;I will thoroughly purge your dross;I will remove all your impurities. 26I will restore your judges as at first,and your counselors as at the beginning.After that you will be called the City of Righteousness,the Faithful City.”

27Zion will be redeemed with justice,her repentant ones with righteousness. 28But rebels and sinners will together be shattered,and those who forsake the LORD will perish. 29Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaksin which you have delighted;you will be embarrassed by the gardensthat you have chosen.

30For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered,like a garden without water. 31The strong man will become tinderand his work will be a spark;both will burn together,with no one to quench the flames.