Isaiah 1:10–31
10 Hear the word of the Lord,w
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!x
11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.y
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you—
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings.z
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths,aa
and the calling of solemn assembliesab—
I cannot stand iniquityac with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,ad
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen.ae
Your hands are covered with blood.af
16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.ag
Remove your evil deeds from my sight.
Stop doing evil.ah
Pursue justice.ai
Correct the oppressor.D
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.
18 “Come, let’s settle this,”a
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;b
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.c
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”d
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.e
what an adulteressA she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her,
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross to be discarded,
your beerB is diluted with water.
friends of thieves.f
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.g
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.h
24 Therefore the Lord God of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get even with my foes;
I will take revenge against my enemies.i
25 I will turn my hand against youj
and will burn away your dross completely;C
I will remove all your impurities.k
26 I will restore your judgesl to what they were at first,
and your advisers to what they were at the start.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,m
a Faithful Town.”
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
those who repent, by righteousness.n
28 At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29 Indeed, theyF will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired,o
and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines
you have chosen.p
30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water.q
31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,r
with no one to extinguish the flames.s