Judah, a Sinful Nation
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning aJudah and Jerusalem, which he beheld in the days of bUzziah, cJotham, dAhaz, and eHezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 aHear, O heavens, and give ear, O bearth;
For Yahweh speaks,
“cSons I have reared and raised up,
But they have dtransgressed against Me.
3 An ox knows its owner,
And a donkey its master’s manger,
But Israel adoes not know;
My people bdo not perceive.”
4 Alas, sinful nation,
People heavy with iniquity,
aSeed of evildoers,
Sons who bact corruptly!
They have cforsaken Yahweh;
They have dspurned the Holy One of Israel;
They have become estranged from Him.
5 Where will you be stricken again,
As you acontinue in your rebellion?
The whole head is bsick,
And the whole heart is faint.
6 aFrom the sole of the foot even to the head
There is bnothing sound in it,
Only bruises, wounds, and raw wounds,
cNot pressed out, not bandaged,
Not softened with oil.
7 Your aland is desolate;
Your cities are burned with fire;
Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence;
It is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
9 aUnless Yahweh of hosts
Had left us a few bsurvivors,
We would be like cSodom,
We would be like Gomorrah.
10 Hear athe word of Yahweh,
You rulers of bSodom;
Give ear to the law of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
11 “aWhat are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says Yahweh.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats I take no pleasure.
12 When you come ato appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
13 Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
aIncense is an abomination to Me.
bNew moon and sabbath, the ccalling of convocation—
I cannot dendure wickedness and the solemn assembly.
14 My soul hates your new moon festivals and your aappointed times,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am bweary of bearing them.
15 So when you aspread out your hands in prayer,
bI will hide My eyes from you;
Indeed, even though you cmultiply prayers,
I will not listen.
dYour hands are full of blood.
16 “aWash yourselves, bpurify yourselves;
cRemove the evil of your deeds from before My eyes.
dCease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
aSeek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
bExecute justice for the orphan,
Plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, and alet us reason together,”
Says Yahweh,
“bThough your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
19 aIf you are willing and obey,
You will beat the best of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be aeaten by the sword.”
For bthe mouth of Yahweh has spoken.
Zion Will Be Redeemed with Justice
21 How the faithful city has become a aharlot,
She who was full of justice!
Righteousness once lodged in her,
But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
Your drink diluted with water.
23 Your arulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone bloves a bribe
And pursues rewards.
They cdo not execute justice for the orphan,
Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
24 Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of hosts,
The aMighty One of Israel, declares,
“Ah, I will be comforted concerning My adversaries,
And I will bavenge Myself on My enemies.
25 I will also turn My hand against you,
And will asmelt away your dross as with lye
And will remove all your alloy.
26 Then I will have your ajudges return as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning;
Afterwards you will be called the bcity of righteousness,
A faithful town.”
27 Zion will be aredeemed with justice
And her repentant ones with righteousness.
28 But transgressors and sinners will be abroken together,
And those who forsake Yahweh will come to an end.
29 For you will be ashamed of the aoaks which you have desired,
And you will be humiliated because of the bgardens which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an oak whose aleaf withers away
Or as a garden that has no water.
31 And the strong man will become tinder,
His work also a spark.
Thus they shall both aburn together,
And there will be bnone to quench them.