Isa 1 | HCSB | STEP | The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah , Jotham , Ahaz , and Hezekiah , kings of Judah .

‏ Isaiah 1

Isaiah

1 The vision ^a concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah ^b son of Amoz saw during the reigns ^{▼▼Lit saw in the days
,} ^{▼▼ca 792-686 b.c.} of Uzziah, ^e Jotham, ^f Ahaz, ^g and Hezekiah, ^h kings of Judah. ⁱ

Judah on Trial

2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, ^j
for the Lord has spoken:
“I have raised children ^{▼▼Or sons} and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against Me. ^l
3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,
but Israel does not know;
My people do not understand.” ^m

4 Oh sinful nation,
people weighed down with iniquity, ⁿ
brood of evildoers, ^o
depraved children! ^{▼▼Or sons}
They have abandoned ^q the Lord;
they have despised ^r the Holy One of Israel; ^s
they have turned their backs on Him.

5 Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep on rebelling?
The whole head is hurt,
and the whole heart is sick.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, ^t
no spot is uninjured ^u –
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.

7 Your land is desolate,
your cities burned with fire; ^v
foreigners devour your fields
before your very eyes –
a desolation demolished by foreigners.
8 Daughter ^{▼▼Zion: Originally a term for the fortified section of Jerusalem and then, by extension, used for the temple and the city of Jerusalem both in the present time and in the future}Zion ^x is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
9 If the Lord of ^{▼▼Hosts/hosts: Military forces consisting of God's angels, sometimes including the sun, moon, and stars, and occasionally, Israel}Hosts ^z
had not left us a few survivors, ^aa
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah. ^ab

10 Hear the word of the Lord, ^ac
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! ^ad
11 “What are all your sacrifices to Me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats. ^af
12 When you come to appear before Me,
who requires this from you –
this trampling of My courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings. ^ag
Your incense is detestable to Me.
New Moons and Sabbaths, ^ah
and the calling of solemn assemblies ^ai –
I cannot stand iniquity ^aj with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to Me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, ^ak
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen. ^al
Your hands are covered with blood. ^am

Purification of Jerusalem

16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. ^an
Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil. ^ao
17 Learn to do what is good.
Seek justice. ^ap
Correct the oppressor. ^{▼▼Or Aid the oppressed}
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.

18 “Come, let us discuss this,” ^ar
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow; ^as
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land. ^at
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.” ^au
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. ^av

21 The faithful city –
what an adulteress ^{▼▼Or prostitute} she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her –
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross, ^{▼▼Or burnished lead}
your beer ^{▼▼Or wine} is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves. ^az
They all love graft
and chase after bribes. ^ba
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them. ^bb

24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;
I will take revenge against My enemies. ^bc
25 I will turn My hand against you ^bd
and will burn away your dross ^{▼▼Or burnished lead} completely; ^{▼▼Lit dross as with lye}
I will remove all your impurities. ^bg
26 I will restore your judges ^bh to what they once were, ^{▼▼Lit judges as at the first}
and your advisers to their former state. ^{▼▼Lit advisers as at the beginning}
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, ^bk
a Faithful City.”

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
her repentant ones by righteousness. ^bl
28 But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29 Indeed, they ^{▼▼Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, Tg read you} will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired, ^bn
and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens
you have chosen. ^bo
30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water. ^bp
31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together, ^bq
with no one to quench the flames. ^br