1 The vision 1:1 Pr 29:18; Dn 8:1; Ob 1; Nah 1:1; Hab 2:2–3 concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah 1:1 Is 2:1; 13:1 son of Amoz saw during the reigns 1:1 ca 792–686 BC of Kings Uzziah, 1:1 2Ch 26:3–5 Jotham, 1:1 2Kg 15:32–38 Ahaz, 1:1 2Kg 16:1–4 and Hezekiah 1:1 2Kg 18:1–8 of Judah. 1:1 Hs 1:1; Mc 1:1
Judah on Trial
2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, 1:2 Dt 4:26; 32:1; Is 30:1; Mc 1:2
for the Lord has spoken:
"I have raised children 1:2 Or sons, also in v. 4 and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me. 1:2 Is 30:1
3 The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,
but Israel does not know;
my people do not understand." 1:3 Jr 8:7
4 Oh sinful nation,
people weighed down with iniquity, 1:4 Is 13:11
brood of evildoers, 1:4 Is 14:20; Mt 3:7
depraved children!
They have abandoned 1:4 Dt 4:31 the Lord;
they have despised 1:4 Nm 14:11; Dt 31:20; Pr 5:12; Is 5:24 the Holy One of Israel; 1:4 Is 5:19,24; 10:20; 12:6; 29:19; 30:11–15
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, 1:6 Jb 2:7
no spot is uninjured 1:6 Ps 38:3 —
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.
7 Your land is desolate,
your cities burned down; 1:7 Lv 26:33; Dt 28:51–52; Is 6:11–12; Jr 44:6
foreigners devour your fields
right in front of you —
a desolation, like a place demolished by foreigners.
8 Daughter Zion 1:8 Is 10:32; 37:22; Zch 2:10; 9:9 is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
9 If the Lord of Armies 1:9 1Sm 17:45
had not left us a few survivors, 1:9 Is 10:21–22
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah. 1:9 Gn 19:24–25; Is 3:9; 13:19; Rm 9:29
10 Hear the word of the Lord, 1:10 Is 28:14
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! 1:10 Is 3:9; Ezk 16:46–49,55; Rv 11:8
11 "What are all your 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. 1:11 1Sm 15:22; Jr 6:20; Hs 6:6; Am 5:21–24; Mt 23:23; Mk 12:33
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you —
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings. 1:13 Mal 1:10
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths, 1:13 Nm 28:11; 1Ch 23:31
and the calling of solemn assemblies 1:13 Ex 12:16; Lv 23:36 —
I cannot stand iniquity 1:13 Is 13:11 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 spread out your hands in prayer, 1:15 1Kg 8:22
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen. 1:15 Is 59:2; Jr 7:16; Ezk 8:18; Am 5:23; Hab 1:2; Zch 7:13
Your hands are covered with blood. 1:15 Pr 1:28; Is 59:1–3; Mc 3:4
Purification of Jerusalem
16 "Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. 1:16 Ps 26:6; Is 4:4; 52:11
Remove your evil deeds from my sight.
Stop doing evil. 1:16 Jr 25:5
17 Learn to do what is good.
Pursue justice. 1:17 Dt 16:20; 1Kg 3:11; Ps 89:14; Is 10:2; 11:4; Am 5:15; Zch 7:9
Correct the oppressor. 1:17 Or Aid the oppressed
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.
18 "Come, let’s settle this," 1:18 Is 41:1,21; 43:26; Mc 6:2
says the Lord.
"Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow; 1:18 Ps 51:7; Is 43:25; 44:22; Rv 7:14
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land. 1:19–20 Dt 30:15–20
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword." 1:20 Jr 12:12
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 1:20 Is 24:3; 40:5; 58:14; Mc 4:4
21 The faithful town —
what an adulteress 1:21 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 to be discarded,
your beer 1:22 Or wine is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves. 1:23 Hs 5:10
They all love graft
and chase after bribes. 1:23 Ex 23:8; Mc 7:2–6
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them. 1:23 Ex 22:22; Dt 24:17; Is 10:2; Jr 5:28; Ezk 22:7; Zch 7:10
24 Therefore the Lord God of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
"Ah, I will get even with my foes;
I will take revenge against my enemies. 1:24 Is 35:4; 59:18; Jr 46:10
25 I will turn my hand against you 1:25 Ps 81:14; Is 5:25; Am 1:8
and will burn away your dross completely; 1:25 Lit dross as with lye
I will remove all your impurities. 1:25 Ezk 22:20; Mal 3:3
26 I will restore your judges 1:26 Is 60:17; Mt 19:28 to what they were at first,
and your advisers to what they were at the start.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, 1:26 Is 33:5; 60:14; 62:1–2; Zch 8:3
a Faithful Town."
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
those who repent, by righteousness. 1:27 Rm 3:26
28 At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29 Indeed, they 1:29 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, Tg read you will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired, 1:29 Is 2:8; 57:5; Hs 4:13
and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines
you have chosen. 1:29 Is 65:3; 66:17
30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water. 1:30 Ps 1:3; Is 64:6
31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together, 1:31 Is 5:24; 9:19; 26:11; 33:11–14
with no one to extinguish the flames. 1:31 Is 66:24; Mt 3:12; Mk 9:43