VerseAI

NIV

Isaiah 1

  1. 1<pb/>The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
  2. 2<pb/><t>Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!</t> <t>For the LORD has spoken:</t> <t>“I reared children and brought them up,</t> <t>but they have rebelled against me.</t>
  3. 3<t>The ox knows its master,</t> <t>the donkey its owner’s manger,</t> <t>but Israel does not know,</t> <t>my people do not understand.” <pb/></t>
  4. 4<t>Woe to the sinful nation,</t> <t>a people whose guilt is great,</t> <t>a brood of evildoers,</t> <t>children given to corruption!</t> <t>They have forsaken the LORD;</t> <t>they have spurned the Holy One of Israel</t> <t>and turned their backs on him. <pb/></t>
  5. 5<t>Why should you be beaten anymore?</t> <t>Why do you persist in rebellion?</t> <t>Your whole head is injured,</t> <t>your whole heart afflicted.</t>
  6. 6<t>From the sole of your foot to the top of your head</t> <t>there is no soundness—</t> <t>only wounds and welts</t> <t>and open sores,</t> <t>not cleansed or bandaged</t> <t>or soothed with olive oil. <pb/></t>
  7. 7<t>Your country is desolate,</t> <t>your cities burned with fire;</t> <t>your fields are being stripped by foreigners</t> <t>right before you,</t> <t>laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.</t>
  8. 8<t>Daughter Zion is left</t> <t>like a shelter in a vineyard,</t> <t>like a hut in a cucumber field,</t> <t>like a city under siege.</t>
  9. 9<t>Unless the LORD Almighty</t> <t>had left us some survivors,</t> <t>we would have become like Sodom,</t> <t>we would have been like Gomorrah. <pb/></t>
  10. 10<t>Hear the word of the LORD,</t> <t>you rulers of Sodom;</t> <t>listen to the instruction of our God,</t> <t>you people of Gomorrah!</t>
  11. 11<t>“The multitude of your sacrifices—</t> <t>what are they to me?” says the LORD.</t> <t>“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,</t> <t>of rams and the fat of fattened animals;</t> <t>I have no pleasure</t> <t>in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.</t>
  12. 12<t>When you come to appear before me,</t> <t>who has asked this of you,</t> <t>this trampling of my courts?</t>
  13. 13<t>Stop bringing meaningless offerings!</t> <t>Your incense is detestable to me.</t> <t>New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—</t> <t>I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.</t>
  14. 14<t>Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals</t> <t>I hate with all my being.</t> <t>They have become a burden to me;</t> <t>I am weary of bearing them.</t>
  15. 15<t>When you spread out your hands in prayer,</t> <t>I hide my eyes from you;</t> <t>even when you offer many prayers,</t> <t>I am not listening. <pb/>Your hands are full of blood! <pb/></t>
  16. 16<t>Wash and make yourselves clean.</t> <t>Take your evil deeds out of my sight;</t> <t>stop doing wrong.</t>
  17. 17<t>Learn to do right; seek justice.</t> <t>Defend the oppressed.<f>[1]</f></t> <t>Take up the cause of the fatherless;</t> <t>plead the case of the widow. <pb/></t>
  18. 18<t>“Come now, let us settle the matter,”</t> <t>says the LORD.</t> <t>“Though your sins are like scarlet,</t> <t>they shall be as white as snow;</t> <t>though they are red as crimson,</t> <t>they shall be like wool.</t>
  19. 19<t>If you are willing and obedient,</t> <t>you will eat the good things of the land;</t>
  20. 20<t>but if you resist and rebel,</t> <t>you will be devoured by the sword.”</t> <t>For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. <pb/></t>
  21. 21<t>See how the faithful city</t> <t>has become a prostitute!</t> <t>She once was full of justice;</t> <t>righteousness used to dwell in her—</t> <t>but now murderers!</t>
  22. 22<t>Your silver has become dross,</t> <t>your choice wine is diluted with water.</t>
  23. 23<t>Your rulers are rebels,</t> <t>partners with thieves;</t> <t>they all love bribes</t> <t>and chase after gifts.</t> <t>They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;</t> <t>the widow’s case does not come before them. <pb/></t>
  24. 24<t>Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,</t> <t>the Mighty One of Israel, declares:</t> <t>“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes</t> <t>and avenge myself on my enemies.</t>
  25. 25<t>I will turn my hand against you;<f>[2]</f></t> <t>I will thoroughly purge away your dross</t> <t>and remove all your impurities.</t>
  26. 26<t>I will restore your leaders as in days of old,</t> <t>your rulers as at the beginning.</t> <t>Afterward you will be called</t> <t>the City of Righteousness,</t> <t>the Faithful City.” <pb/></t>
  27. 27<t>Zion will be delivered with justice,</t> <t>her penitent ones with righteousness.</t>
  28. 28<t>But rebels and sinners will both be broken,</t> <t>and those who forsake the LORD will perish. <pb/></t>
  29. 29<t>“You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks</t> <t>in which you have delighted;</t> <t>you will be disgraced because of the gardens</t> <t>that you have chosen.</t>
  30. 30<t>You will be like an oak with fading leaves,</t> <t>like a garden without water.</t>
  31. 31<t>The mighty man will become tinder</t> <t>and his work a spark;</t> <t>both will burn together,</t> <t>with no one to quench the fire.”</t>