Isaiah 1

1 The visions of Isaiah son of Amoz, that he has seen 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, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For YHWH has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up sons, And they transgressed 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 An ox has known its owner, And a donkey the crib of its master, Israel has not known, My people have not understood.”

The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”

4 Oh, sinning nation, a people heavy [with] iniquity, A seed of evildoers, sons—corrupters! They have forsaken YHWH, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have gone 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 are you struck anymore? You add apostasy! Every head has become diseased, and every heart [is] sick.

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—to the head, There is no soundness in it, Wound, and bruise, and fresh striking! They have not been closed nor bound, Nor have they softened with ointment.

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 land [is] a desolation, your cities burned with fire, Your ground—strangers are consuming it before you, And a desolation 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 has been left, As a shelter in a vineyard, As a lodge in a place of cucumbers—as a city besieged.

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 YHWH of Hosts had left a remnant to us, Shortly—we had been as Sodom, We had been like to 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 YHWH, you rulers of Sodom, Give ear to the Law of our God, you people of Gomorrah,

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

11 “Why the abundance of your sacrifices to Me?” says YHWH, “I have been satiated [with] burnt-offerings of rams, And fat of fatlings; And blood of bullocks, and lambs, And I have not desired male goats.

“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 you come to appear before Me, Who has required this of your hand, To trample My courts?

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

13 Do not add to bring in a vain present, Incense—it [is] an abomination to Me, New moon, and Sabbath, calling of convocation! Do not render iniquity—and a restraint!

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 has hated your new moons and your set seasons, They have been on Me for a burden, I have been weary of bearing.

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

15 And in your spreading forth your hands, I hide My eyes from you, Also when you increase prayer, I do not hear, Your hands have been 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 yourselves, make yourselves pure, Turn aside the evil of your doings, from before My eyes, Cease to do evil, learn to do good.

Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.

17 Seek judgment, make the oppressed blessed, Judge the fatherless, strive [for] the widow.

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

18 Now come, and we settle this,” says YHWH, “If your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow, If they are red as crimson, they will 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 you are willing, and have listened, The good of the land you consume,

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

20 And if you refuse, and have rebelled, You are consumed [by] the sword,” For the mouth of YHWH has spoken.

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

21 How has a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodges in it—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 Your silver has become dross, Your drink defiled with water.

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

23 Your princes [are] apostates, and companions of thieves, Everyone loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, They do not judge the fatherless, And the plea of the widow does not come to 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—a declaration of the Lord—YHWH of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Oh, I relieve Myself from My adversaries, And avenge Myself against My 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 turn back My hand on you, And I refine your dross as purity, And I turn aside all your tin,

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

26 And I give back your judges as at the first, And your counselors as in the beginning, After this you are called, A city of righteousness—a 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 is redeemed in judgment, And her captivity in righteousness.

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

28 And the destruction of transgressors and sinners [is] together, And those forsaking YHWH are consumed.

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

29 For [men] are ashamed because of the oaks That you have desired, And you are confounded because of the gardens That you 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 you are as an oak whose leaf is fading, And as a garden that has no water.

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

31 And the strong has been for tow, And his work for a spark, And both of them have burned together, And there is none quenching!

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