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The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

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- Chapter 1 -

(2 Chronicles 28:5–15)
1
This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
3
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children of depravity! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.
5
Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
6
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.
7
Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you— a desolation demolished by strangers.
8
And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.
9
Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors,(a) we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.(b)

Meaningless Offerings

10
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
11
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12
When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?
13
Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.
14
I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.
15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
16
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor.(c) Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”
18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
19
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.
20
But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

The Corruption of Zion

21
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
22
(21) See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers! (22) Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.
23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.
24
Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.
25
I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
26
I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”
27
Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.
28
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
29
Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
30
For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, like a garden without water.
31
The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.

Footnotes

(a)1:9 LXX had left us descendants
(b)1:9 Cited in Romans 9:29
(c)1:17 Or and encourage the oppressed
(2 Chronicles 28:5–15)
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, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD (a) has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and 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 don’t consider.”
4
Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring (b) 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 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, 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. Strangers devour your land in your presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8
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 the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.

Meaningless Offerings

10
Hear the LORD’s word, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God,(c) you people of Gomorrah!
11
“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 at your hand, to trample my courts?
13
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 hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.
15
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 yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
17
Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
18
“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 obedient, you will eat the good of the land;
20
but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the LORD’s mouth has spoken it.”

The Corruption of Zion

21
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 wine mixed with water.
23
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 the Lord,(d) GOD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies.
25
I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.(e)
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.’
27
Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.
28
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 oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for 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.
31
The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

Footnotes

(a)1:2 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
(b)1:4 or, seed
(c)1:10 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
(d)1:24 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
(e)1:25 tin is a metal that is separated from silver during the refining and purification process.
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