The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 01 A Description of the Sins and Sufferings of the People, with Exhortations and Threats

 The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 01

A Description of the Sins and Sufferings of the People, with Exhortations and Threats

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, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: I have nourished children and brought them up, but they have transgressed against Me.

3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not understand.

4 Woe to the sinful nation, to the people laden with iniquity, to the seed of evildoers, to the corrupting children! They have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they have gone backward.

5 Why should you be punished any longer, if you would rebel? 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 and bruises, and rotten parts, not pressed out or bound, nor softened with oil.

7 Your land is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; your land is devoured by strangers before you; it is desolate, as in the overthrow of strangers.

8 And the daughter of Zion has become like a hut in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege.

9 Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a remnant, we would have been like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, you princes of Sodom: give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

11 Of what use is the multitude of your sacrifices to me, says the Lord? I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, lambs, and goats.

12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hands, to trample my courts?

13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me, and the new moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies; I cannot endure iniquity, nor even the solemn assembly.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they are burdensome to me; I am weary of bearing them.

15 Therefore, when you spread out your hands, I hide my eyes from you; yes, when you make many prayers, I do not hear, because your hands are full of blood. 

16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil.

17 Learn to do good; practice what is right; help the oppressed; defend the fatherless; plead for the widow.

18 Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like 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 shall eat the good of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! She who was full of righteousness! Righteousness once dwelt in her, but now murderers. 

22 Your silver has become dross, your wine is mixed with water.

23 Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves; every one loves bribes and runs after wages. They do not judge the fatherless, and the cause of widows does not come before them.

24 Therefore says the Lord God of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will be comforted against my adversaries, and I will take vengeance on my enemies.

25 I will turn my hand against you and thoroughly purge away your dross and take away all your dross.

26 I will restore your judges as before, and your counselors as of old. Then you will be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, and those who return to her with righteousness. 

28 But the transgressors and the sinners will be destroyed together, and those who forsake the Lord will be consumed.

29 For you will be ashamed of the oaks you have desired, and you will be confounded by the gardens you have chosen.

30 For you will be like the oak whose leaves wither, and like the forest where there is no water.

31 The strong will become tinder, and their work a spark; they will both burn together, with no one to quench them.