Isaiah 1
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Listen, heavens; pay attention, earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I raised children and brought them up, but they rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough; Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”
4 Ah, sinful nation, people weighed down with guilt, offspring of evildoers, corrupt children! They have abandoned the LORD, despised the Holy One of Israel, and turned their backs.
5 Why do you keep wanting to be struck, if you continue in rebellion? Every head is sick, and every heart is faint.
6 From the sole of the foot to the head, there is nothing healthy: only wounds, bruises, and open sores, not squeezed out, not bandaged, not softened with oil.
7 Your land is desolate; your cities burned with fire. Foreigners devour your soil right before your eyes; it is a ruin, like devastation by foreigners.
8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
9 If the LORD of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.
10 Listen to the word of the LORD, rulers of Sodom; pay attention to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah.
11 “What use to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed animals; I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me, who asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more worthless grain offerings; incense is detestable to me. New moon, Sabbath, assembly called together: I cannot endure wickedness alongside solemn gathering.
14 Your new moons and your festivals, I myself hate; they have become a burden to me, and I am tired of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands, I hide my eyes from you; even if you multiply your prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before me; stop doing evil.
17 Learn to do good; seek justice, set the oppressor right, judge the cause of the orphan, plead the widow's case.
18 “Come, let us settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will become white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obey, you will eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
21 How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lived in her. But now—murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross; your drink is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; all of them love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not judge the orphan, and the widow's case does not reach them.
24 Therefore, the declaration of the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah! I will rid myself of my adversaries and take vengeance on my enemies.
25 I will turn my hand against you; I will refine your dross as with lye and remove all your tin.
26 I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as in the beginning. Afterward you will be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City.”
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those who return to her by righteousness.
28 Ruin will come to the rebels and sinners together, and those who abandon the LORD will be destroyed.
29 You will be ashamed of the oaks you desired, and embarrassed because of the gardens you chose.
30 You will be like an oak with withered leaves, like a garden without water.
31 The strong man will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put them out.
Read and listen to this chapter in the Shalem app, free: narration, chapter video and reading progress. Get the app