Isaiah 1

1 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.

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

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

Hear, heavens, and give ear, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, but 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 do not understand.

The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know, Israel does not understand.”

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

Woe! Nation, sinners, a people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned Yahweh, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have estranged themselves from him.

5 Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Why are you still being beaten? Why do you rebel more and more? The whole head is sick, the whole heart is weak.

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, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil.

From the sole of the foot to the head there is no part unharmed; only wounds, and bruises, and fresh open wounds; they have not been closed, cleansed, bandaged, nor treated 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.

Your country is ruined; your cities are burned; your fields—in your presence, strangers are destroying them— abandoned devastation, overthrown by strangers.

8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of cucumbers, like a besieged city.

The daughter of Zion is left like a hut in a vineyard, like a shed in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city.

9 Unless YHWH of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have been as Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah.

If Yahweh of hosts had not left for us a small remnant, we would have been like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of YHWH, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah:

11 "What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says YHWH. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.

“What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?” says Yahweh. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fatted beasts; and in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats I do not delight.

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

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

13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.

Bring no more meaningless offerings; incense is an abomination to me; your new moon and Sabbath assemblies—I cannot tolerate these wicked assemblies.

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

I hate your new moons and your appointed feasts; they are a burden to me; I am tired of enduring them.

15 When you spread forth 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.

So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen; 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.

Wash, cleanse yourselves; remove the evil of your deeds from my sight; stop being evil;

17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow."

learn to do good; seek justice, make straight the oppression, give justice to the fatherless, defend the widow.”

18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says YHWH: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh; “though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.

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

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

20 but if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of YHWH has spoken it."

but if you refuse and rebel, the sword will devour you,” for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.

21 How the faithful city has become a prostitute. She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She who was full of justice—she was full of righteousness, but now she is full of murderers.

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

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

23 Your rulers are rebellious, companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe, chasing after payoffs. They do not judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes and runs after payoffs. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the widow's legal plea come before them.

24 Therefore YHWH of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, says: "Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself of my enemies;

Therefore this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Woe to them! I will take vengeance against my adversaries, and avenge myself against my enemies;

25 and I will turn my hand against you, and I will purge away your dross, and I will take away all your slag.

I will turn my hand against you, refine away your dross as with lye, and take away all your dross.

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.'

I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; after that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful town.”

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

Zion will be redeemed by justice, and her repentant ones by righteousness.

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

Rebels and sinners will be crushed together, and those who abandon Yahweh will be done away with.

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.

“For you will be ashamed of the sacred oak trees that you desired, and you will be embarrassed by 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.

For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades, and like 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."

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