Isaiah 1

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

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, [ye] heavens, and give ear, [thou] earth! for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children; and they have rebelled against me.

Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me.

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; Israel doth not know, my people hath no intelligence.

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 laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that corrupt themselves! They have forsaken Jehovah; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they are turned away backward.

Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward.

5 Why should ye be smitten any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

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 unto the head there is no soundness in him; wounds, and weals, and open sores: they have not been dressed, nor bound up, nor mollified with oil.

From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but 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; your land, strangers eat it up in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Your country is desolate. Your cities are burnt with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left, as a booth in a vineyard, as a night-lodge in a cucumber-garden, as a besieged city.

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 Jehovah of hosts had left us a very small residue, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Unless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of Jehovah, rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, people of Gomorrah!

Hear the LORD’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Jehovah. I am sated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, and of lambs, and of he-goats I take no pleasure.

“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says the LORD. “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 ye come to appear before me, who hath required this from your hand — to tread my courts?

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

13 Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto me, — new moon and sabbath, the calling of convocations — wickedness and the solemn meeting I cannot bear.

Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies.

14 Your new moons and your set feasts my soul hateth: they are a burden to me; I am wearied of bearing [them].

My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

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 you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; — cease to do evil,

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 judgment, gladden the oppressed, do justice to the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”

18 Come now, let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “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 ye be willing and hearken, ye shall eat the good of the land;

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land;

20 but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the LORD’s mouth has spoken it.”

21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness used to lodge in it, but now murderers.

How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine is mixed with water:

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

23 thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth presents, and hunteth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh not unto them.

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 saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.

Therefore the Lord, GOD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies.

25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and will thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thine alloy;

I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.

26 and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning. Afterwards thou shalt be called, Town of righteousness, Faithful city.

I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’

27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and they that return of her with righteousness.

Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.

28 But the ruin of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together; and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.

But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinths that ye have desired, and ye shall blush for the gardens that ye have chosen.

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 ye shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.

31 And the strong shall be for tow, and his work a spark; and they shall both burn together, and there shall be none to quench [them].

The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”