Isaiah - Chapter 1 | English Standard Version

  • 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.
  • 2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: "Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
  • 3. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."
  • 4. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.
  • 5. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? 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, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.
  • 7. Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
  • 8. And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
  • 9. If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
  • 10. Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
  • 11. "What 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 beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
  • 12. "When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?
  • 13. Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
  • 14. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
  • 15. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many 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 my eyes; cease to do evil,
  • 17. learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
  • 18. "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
  • 19. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
  • 20. but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
  • 21. How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
  • 22. Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water.
  • 23. Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them.
  • 24. Therefore the Lord declares, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: "Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes.
  • 25. I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy.
  • 26. And 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, the faithful city."
  • 27. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
  • 28. But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
  • 29. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen.
  • 30. For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water.
  • 31. And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them.
أعلى