NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah.

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

2Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!

2Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me.

3An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand."

3"An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master's manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand."

4The sinful nation is as good as dead, the people weighed down by evil deeds. They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things. They have abandoned the LORD, and rejected the Holy One of Israel. They are alienated from him.

4Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him.

5Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak.

5Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint.

6From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil.

6From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7Your land is devastated, your cities burned with fire. Right before your eyes your crops are being destroyed by foreign invaders. They leave behind devastation and destruction.

7Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields-- strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

8Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city.

8The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman's hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9If the LORD who commands armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly become like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.

9Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

10Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah!

10Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah.

11"Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.

11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.

12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this--animals trampling on my courtyards?

12"When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?

13Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!

13"Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

14I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.

14"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.

15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.

15"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning!

16"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,

17Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

18Come, let's consider your options," says the LORD. "Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.

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 like wool.

19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land.

19"If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;

20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the LORD has spoken.

20"But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

21How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.

21How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.

22Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water.

22Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water.

23Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.

23Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.

24Therefore, the sovereign LORD who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: "Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies.

24Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries And avenge Myself on My foes.

25I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag.

25"I will also turn My hand against you, And will smelt away your dross as with lye And will remove all your alloy.

26I will reestablish honest judges as in former times, wise advisers as in earlier days. Then you will be called, 'The Just City, Faithful Town.'"

26"Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city."

27Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness.

27Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness.

28All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish.

28But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.

29Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship.

29Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.

30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered.

30For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away Or as a garden that has no water.

31The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.

31The strong man will become tinder, His work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together And there will be none to quench them.

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