Isaiah 1

1 The Visions of Isaiah son of Amoz, that he hath seen concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, 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 hath spoken: Sons I have nourished and brought up, And they — they transgressed 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 An ox hath known its owner, And an ass the crib of its master, Israel hath not known, My people hath not understood.

The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master's crib; but Israel doesn't know, my people do not understand.

4 Ah, sinning nation, a people heavy [with] iniquity, A seed of evil doers, sons — corrupters! They have forsaken Jehovah, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have gone away 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 Wherefore are ye stricken any more? Ye do add apostasy! Every head is become diseased, and every heart [is] sick.

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 — unto the head, There is no soundness in it, Wound, and bruise, and fresh smiting! They have not been closed nor bound, Nor have they softened with ointment.

From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven't been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil.

7 Your land [is] a desolation, your cities burnt with fire, Your ground, before you strangers are consuming it, And a desolation as overthrown by strangers!

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 And left hath been the daughter of Zion, As a booth in a vineyard, As a lodge in a place of cucumbers — as a city besieged.

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

9 Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left to us a remnant, Shortly — as Sodom we had been, To Gomorrah we had been like!

Unless the LORD of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have been as Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom, Give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah,

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

11 'Why to Me the abundance of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah, I have been satiated [with] burnt-offerings of rams, And fat of fatlings; And blood of bullocks, and lambs, And he-goats I have not desired.

"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 do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.

12 When ye come in to appear before Me, Who hath required this of your hand, To trample My courts?

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

13 Add not to bring in a vain present, Incense — an abomination it [is] to Me, New moon, and sabbath, calling of convocation! Rendure not iniquity — and a restraint!

Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.

14 Your new moons and your set seasons hath My soul hated, They have been upon me for a burden, I have been weary of bearing.

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

15 And in your spreading forth your hands, I hide mine eyes from you, Also when ye increase prayer, I do not hear, Your hands of blood have been full.

When you spread forth 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 ye, make ye pure, Turn aside the evil of your doings, from before Mine eyes, Cease to do evil, learn to do good.

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

17 Seek judgment, make happy the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, strive [for] the widow.

Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow."

18 Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be!

"Come now, and 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 be as wool.

19 If ye are willing, and have hearkened, The good of the land ye consume,

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

20 And if ye refuse, and have rebelled, [By] the sword ye are consumed, For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

but if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

21 How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it — now murderers.

How the faithful city has become a prostitute. She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22 Thy silver hath become dross, Thy drink polluted with water.

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

23 Thy princes [are] apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them.

Your rulers are rebellious, companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe, chasing after payoffs. They do not judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

24 Therefore — the affirmation of the Lord — Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I am eased of Mine adversaries, And I am avenged of Mine enemies,

Therefore the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, says: "Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself of my enemies;

25 And I turn back My hand upon thee, And I refine as purity thy dross, And I turn aside all thy tin,

and I will turn my hand against you, and I will purge away your dross, and I will take away all your slag.

26 And I give back thy judges as at the first, And thy counsellors as in the beginning, After this thou art called, 'A city of righteousness — a faithful city.'

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 in judgment is redeemed, And her captivity in righteousness.

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

28 And the destruction of transgressors and sinners [is] together, And those forsaking Jehovah are consumed.

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

29 For [men] are ashamed because of the oaks That ye have desired, And ye are confounded because of the gardens That ye have chosen.

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 ye are as an oak whose leaf is fading, And as a garden that hath no water.

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

31 And the strong hath been for tow, And his work for a spark, And burned have both of them together, And there is none quenching!

The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them."