Isaiah 1
1A VISION which Esaias son of Amos saw, (which he saw respecting Judea and Jerusalem) in the reign of Ozias, and Joatham and Achaz and Hezekias, who reigned over Judea:
2Hearken, O heaven! and hear O earth! what the Lord hath spoken: I have begotten children and brought them up; and they have rebelled against Me.
3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel did not know Me. And this people have not regarded Me.
4Ah! sinful nation—people full of sins! vile race! iniquitous children! you have utterly forsaken the Lord; and provoked to wrath the Holy One of Israel.
5What! must you persisting in iniquity be smitten still more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint:
6from the feet to the head, there is no soundness therein. Is it not, here a wound, there a bruise, there a putrefying sore? there is no applying poultice, nor oil, nor bandages.
7Your land is a desert: your cities are burnt with fire. As for your country, before your eyes strangers are devouring it; and it is laid waste, being subdued by foreign tribes.
8Must the daughter of Sion be left as a shed in a vineyard: and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers—as a city taken by siege?
9Had not the Lord of Hosts left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom and made like Gomorra.
10Hear a word of the Lord, O chiefs of Sodom! Attend to the law of God, ye people of Gomorra!
11What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? saith the Lord: I am cloyed with whole burnt offerings of rams: in the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats I have no delight;
12nor should you come to appear before Me: for who hath required these at your hands? You shall no more be admitted to tread My court.
13Though you bring fine flour; it is a vain incense—it is an abomination to Me. Your new moons and sabbaths and great day I cannot endure: your fasting and cessation from labour;
14and your new moons and your festivals My soul hateth. You are become loathsome to Me; I will no longer remit your sins.
15When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn Mine eyes from you; and though you multiply prayer, I will not hearken to you: for your hands are full of blood.
16Wash and become clean: remove iniquities from your souls; in My presence, cease from your evil deeds;
17learn to do good; seek judgment; deliver him who is injured; administer justice to the orphan, and plead the cause of the widow:
18then come—(let our controversy be brought to issue, saith the Lord) and though your sins be as a purple stain; I will make you white as snow—though they be as a stain of scarlet; I will make you white as wool.
19If you indeed be willing and will hearken to Me, you shall eat the good things of the land:
20but if you refuse and hearken not to Me, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these words.
21How is the faithful city become a harlot? Sion that was full of justice! In its righteousness made its abode; but now murderers.
22Your silver is not pure: thy vintners mix the wine with water.
23The chiefs are rebellious; associates of thieves: they love gifts; they seek rewards: to orphans they do not administer justice; and to the cause of widows they do not attend.
24Therefore thus saith the sovereign Lord of hosts: Alas for the rulers of Israel! for My wrath against these adversaries shall not abate. On these enemies of Mine I will execute judgment:
25and I will bring My hand over thee, and purify thee with fire. Them who are disobedient I will destroy; and I will take away from thee all transgressors,
26and establish thy judges as at the first: and thy counsellors as at the beginning:
27and after these things thou shalt be called The city of Righteousness, the faithful metropolis, Sion. For in the exercise of judgment her captivity shall be saved:
28and in the exercise of mercy, the lawless and sinful shall be crushed together; and they who have forsaken the Lord shall be utterly destroyed:
29for they shall be exposed to shame for the idols on which they doted; as they have been for the gardens which they desired.
30For they shall be like an ilex, which hath shed its leaves; and like a garden which hath no water: and their strength shall be like tow; and their works like sparks of fire: and the lawlessness and sinful shall be burned up together; and there shall be no extinguisher.