Isaiah 1

1 The visions 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 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 Jehovah speaketh: “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; But Israel doth not know; My people do not consider.”

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 race of evil-doers! degenerate children! They have forsaken Jehovah; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; They have gone 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 Where can ye be smitten again, Since ye renew your rebellion? 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 to the head, there is no soundness in it; It is all bruises, and stripes, and flesh wounds, Neither pressed, nor bound up, nor 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 country is desolate; Your cities are burnt with fire; Your ground, strangers devour it before your eyes; It is become desolate, destroyed by an enemy.

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 shed in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, 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 Had not Jehovah of hosts left us a small remnant, We had soon become 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 ye the word of Jehovah, ye princes of Sodom! Give ear to the instruction of our God, ye people of Gomorrah!

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

11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah; I am satiated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; In the blood of bullocks and of lambs and of goats I have no delight.

“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 of you, 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 false oblations! Incense is an abomination to me, The new moon also, and the sabbath, and the calling of the assembly; Iniquity and festivals I cannot endure.

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 feasts my soul hateth; They are a burden to me; I am weary 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 When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; Yea, when ye multiply 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 your evil doings from before mine eyes;

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

17 Cease to do evil; Learn to do well; Seek justice; relieve the oppressed; Defend 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, and let us argue together, saith Jehovah. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red as crimson, they shall be like 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 obedient, Ye shall consume 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 be rebellious, The sword shall consume you; For the mouth of Jehovah hath said it.

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, She that was full of equity! Once justice dwelt in her, 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 adulterated with water.

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

23 Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves; Every one of them loveth gifts, and seeketh rewards; They render not justice to the fatherless, And the cause of the widow cometh not before 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 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ha! 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 again turn my hand toward thee, And wholly purge away thy dross, And take away all thy 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 thee judges, as at the first, And counsellors, as at the beginning. Then shalt thou be called the city of righteousness, the 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 Through justice shall Zion be delivered, And her reformed sons through righteousness.

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

28 But destruction shall fall at once on the rebels and sinners; Yea, 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 ye shall be ashamed of the terebinths in which ye delighted; Ye shall blush for the gardens which ye loved;

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 And ye shall be as a terebinth-tree whose leaves are withered, And as a garden in which is no water.

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

31 The strong shall become tow, And his work a spark of fire; Both shall burn together, And none shall 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.”