The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

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- Chapter 1 -

(2 Chronicles 28:5–15)

The vision of Isaias the son of Amos I which he saw concerning Juda and Jerusalem in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda.

Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have despised me.

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.

Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards.

For what shall I strike you any more, you that increase transgression? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad.

From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores: they are not bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oil.

Your land is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your country strangers devour before your face, and it shall be desolate as when wasted by enemies.

And the daughter of Sion shall be left as a covert in a vineyard, and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a city that is laid waste.

Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been as Sodom, and we should have been like to Gomorrha.

Meaningless Offerings

Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha.

To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats.

When you came to appear before me, who required these things at your hands, that you should walk in my courts?

Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. The new moons, and the sabbaths, and other festivals I will not abide, your assemblies are wicked.

My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them.

And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from my eyes: cease to do perversely,

Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow.

And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.

If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land.

But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword shall devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

The Corruption of Zion

How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers.

Thy silver is turned into dress: thy wine is mingled with water.

Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love bribes, the run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and the widow’s cometh not in to them.

Therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts, the mighty one of Israel: Ah! I will comfort myself over my adversaries: and I will be revenged of my enemies.

And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy dress, and I will take away all thy tin.

And I will restore thy judges as they were before, and thy counsellors as of old. After this thou shalt be called the city of the just, a faithful city.

Sion shall be redeemed in judgment, and they shall bring her back in justice.

And he shall destroy the wicked, and the sinners together: and they that have forsaken the Lord, shall be consumed.

For they shall be confounded for the idols, to which they have sacrificed: and you shall be ashamed of the gardens which you have chosen.

When you shall be as an oak with the leaves falling off, and as a garden without water.

And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow, and your work as a spark: and both shall burn together, and there shall be none to quench it.

(2 Chronicles 28:5–15)

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.

Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for the LORD

(a)

has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

“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.

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

Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies.

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

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.

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

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

“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.

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

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

How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers.

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

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.

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.

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

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.’

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

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

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

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

(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.