Isaiah
Chapter 1
1 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 HaShem hath
spoken: Children I have reared, and brought up, and they have rebelled against
Me.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib;
but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of
evil-doers, children that deal corruptly; they have forsaken HaShem, they have
contemned the Holy One of Israel, they are turned away backward.
5 On what part will ye yet be stricken, seeing ye stray away
more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores: they have not
been pressed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.
7 Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire;
your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as
overthrown by floods.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard,
as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9 Except HaShem of hosts had left unto us a very small
remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of HaShem, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto
the law of our G-d, ye people of Gomorrah.
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto
Me? saith HaShem; I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed
beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
12 When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this
at your hand, to trample My courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of
abomination unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I
cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed seasons My soul hateth;
they are a burden unto Me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes
from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full
of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings
from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed,
judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith HaShem; though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of
the land;
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the
sword; for the mouth of HaShem hath spoken.
21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was
full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves;
every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the
fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
24 Therefore saith the L-rd, HaShem of hosts, the Mighty One
of Israel: Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine
enemies;
25 And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy
dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy;
26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy
counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of
righteousness, the faithful city.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return
of her with righteousness.
28 But the destruction of the transgressors and the sinners
shall be together, and they that forsake HaShem shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinths which ye have
desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
30 For ye shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fadeth, and as a
garden that hath no water.
31 And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark;
and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
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