Isaiah

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

² Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.

³ the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

⁴ a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

⁵ Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.

⁶ there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.

⁷ your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.

⁸ like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege.

⁹ had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.

¹⁰ you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

¹¹ what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

¹² who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

¹³ Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

¹⁴ my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

¹⁵ I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood;

¹⁶ Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,

¹⁷ Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

¹⁸ says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

¹⁹ you will eat the best from the land;

²⁰ you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

²¹ has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!

²² your choice wine is diluted with water.

²³ companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

²⁴ the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will get relief from my foes and avenge myself on my enemies.

²⁵ I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.

²⁶ your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

²⁷ her penitent ones with righteousness.

²⁸ and those who forsake the Lord will perish.

²⁹ in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.

³⁰ like a garden without water.

³¹ and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.”