THE
BOOK OF ISAIAH
Isaiah Chapter 1
1
¶ The revelation concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah the son of Amoz,
received during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah.
2
¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken, I have
nurtured and raised children, and they have rebelled against me.
3
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib: but
4
O sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers,
children who pervert: you have forsaken the LORD, you have provoked the Holy
One of Israel to anger, you have turned your backs on him.
5
Why do you want more punishment? why must you continue to go astray: the whole
head is sick, and the whole heart is feeble.
6
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing healthy in
you; only wounds, bruises, and festering sores: they have not been
closed, or bandaged, or soothed with oil.
7
Your country lies desolate, your cities have been burned with
fire: strangers devour your land before you, so it is barren, a land
destroyed by foreigners.
8
And the daughter of
9
If the LORD of armies had not left us a very small remnant, we would have been
like Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah.
10
¶ Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God,
you people of Gomorrah.
11
What is the reason for your many sacrifices to me? asks the LORD: I have had
enough of burnt offerings and rams, and the fat of well fed cattle; I have no
desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.
12
When you come to appear before me, who requires this from you, this treading of
my courts?
13
Do not bring any more worthless offerings; I despise your incense, your new
moons, your sabbaths, and festive assemblies; I cannot endure iniquity with a
festival.
14
My soul hates your new moons and your appointed feasts: they are a burden to
me; I am tired of putting up with them.
15
When you spread out your hands, I will close my eyes to you: yea, when you make
many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.
16
¶ Wash, make yourselves clean; put the evil you are doing out of my sight; stop
doing evil;
17
Learn to do good; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the rights of
orphans, plead the widow’s cause.
18
Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are as
scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they
will be as wool.
19
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the
land:
20
But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword: for the mouth
of the LORD has spoken it.
21
¶ How has the faithful city become an harlot! once it was full of justice; and
righteousness lived there; but now murderers.
22
Your silver has turned to dross, your wine is mixed with water:
23
Your rulers are rebellious, and friends of thieves: everyone loves
bribes, and runs after gifts: they are unjust to orphans, and the widow’s case
never comes before them.
24
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of armies, the mighty One of Israel, says, I will
get satisfaction from my adversaries, and avenge myself on my enemies:
25
And I will turn my hand against you, and completely purge away your dross, and
remove all your impurities:
26
And I will again give you judges as at the first, and advisers as at the
beginning: after that you will again be called, The city of
righteousness, the faithful city.
27
Zion will be redeemed with justice, and her repentant ones with righteousness.
28
The transgressors and sinners will be destroyed together, and those who
forsake the LORD will be consumed.
29
For you will be ashamed of the sacred trees that you desired, and will be
embarrassed because of the gardens that you have chosen.
30
For you will be like an oak whose leaves wither, and like a garden that has no
water.
31
And the strong man will be like tinder, and his work like a spark, and they will
both burn together, and none will quench the flame.