Isaiah 1

Superscription

¹The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Rebellious Judah

²Hear, heavens,

“I reared children

³An ox knows its owner

Israel does not know;

⁴Ah, sinful nation,

offspring of evildoers,

They have forsaken Yahweh;

⁵Why do you want to be beaten again?

The whole of the head is sick,

⁶From the sole of the foot and up to the head

bruise and sore and bleeding wound have not been cleansed,

⁷Your country is desolate,

As for your land, aliens are devouring it in your presence,

⁸And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard,

⁹If Yahweh of hosts had not left us survivors,[#Hebrew “survivor”]

¹⁰Hear the word of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom!

¹¹What is the abundance of your sacrifices to me? says Yahweh.

¹²When you come to appear before me,

¹³You must not continue to bring offerings of futility,[#Literally “increase” or “add to”; #Hebrew “offering”]

new moon and Sabbath, the calling of a convocation—

¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates;

¹⁵And when you stretch out your hands,

even though you make many prayers,

Your hands are full of blood.

¹⁶Wash! Make yourselves clean!

Cease to do evil!

¹⁷Learn to do good!

¹⁸“Come now, and let us argue,” says Yahweh.

¹⁹If you are willing and you are obedient,

²⁰But if you refuse and you rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

Purifying Jerusalem

²¹How has a faithful city become like a whore?

²²Your silver has become as dross;

²³Your princes are rebels

Every one loves a bribe

They do not defend the orphan

²⁴Therefore, the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:

“Ah, I will be relieved of my enemies,

²⁵And I will turn my hand against you;

I will purify your dross like lye,

²⁶And I will restore your judges, as at the first,

After this you will be called the city of righteousness,

²⁷Zion will be redeemed by justice,

²⁸But the destruction of rebels and sinners shall be together,

²⁹For you will be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted,[#Literally “they,” but a few manuscripts read “you,” which fits the context better]

³⁰For you shall be like an oak withering its leaves,

³¹And the strong man shall become like tinder,

And both of them shall burn together,