Isaiah 1

² Hear, heavens,
    and listen, earth; for Yahweh ^[a] has spoken:
“I have nourished and brought up children
    and they have rebelled against me.
³ The ox knows his owner,
    and the donkey his master’s crib;
    but Israel doesn’t know.
    My people don’t consider.”
⁴ Ah sinful nation,
    a people loaded with iniquity,
    offspring ^[b] of evildoers,
    children who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken Yahweh.
    They have despised the Holy One of Israel.
    They are estranged and backward.
⁵ Why should you be beaten more,
    that you revolt more and more?
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:
    wounds, welts, and open sores.
    They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.
⁷ Your country is desolate.
    Your cities are burned with fire.
    Strangers devour your land in your presence
    and it is desolate,
    as overthrown by strangers.
⁸ The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
    like a hut in a field of melons,
    like a besieged city.
⁹ Unless Yahweh of Armies had left to us a very small remnant,
    we would have been as Sodom.
    We would have been like Gomorrah.

¹⁰ Hear Yahweh’s word, you rulers of Sodom!
    Listen to the law of our God, ^[c] you people of Gomorrah!
¹¹ “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says Yahweh.
    “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed animals.
    I don’t delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs,
    or of male goats.
¹² When you come to appear before me,
    who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
¹³ Bring no more vain offerings.
    Incense is an abomination to me.
    New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations:
    I can’t stand evil assemblies.
¹⁴ My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts.
    They are a burden to me.
    I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you.
    Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
    Your hands are full of blood.
¹⁶ Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean.
    Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes.
    Cease to do evil.
¹⁷ Learn to do well.
    Seek justice.
    Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
    Plead for the widow.”

¹⁸ “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh:
    “Though your sins are as 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 will eat the good of the land;
²⁰     but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword;
    for the Yahweh’s mouth has spoken it.”

²¹ How the faithful city has become a prostitute!
    She was full of justice.
Righteousness lodged in her,
    but now there are murderers.
²² Your silver has become dross,
    your wine mixed with water.
²³ Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves.
    Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards.
    They don’t defend the fatherless,
    neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

²⁴ Therefore the Lord, ^[d] Yahweh of Armies,
    the Mighty One of Israel, says:
“Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries,
    and avenge myself on my enemies.
²⁵ I will turn my hand on you,
    thoroughly purge away your dross,
    and will take away all your tin. ^[e]
26 I will restore your judges as at the first,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness,
    a faithful town.’
²⁷ Zion shall be redeemed with justice,
    and her converts with righteousness.
²⁸ But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together,
    and those who forsake Yahweh shall be consumed.
²⁹ For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,
    and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen.
³⁰ For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades,
    and as a garden that has no water.
³¹ The strong will be like tinder,
    and his work like a spark.
They will both burn together,
    and no one will quench them.”