English Standard Version | NET Bible |
1The 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. | 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. |
2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. | 2Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me! |
3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” | 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." |
4Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. | 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. |
5Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. | 5Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak. |
6From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. | 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. |
7Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners. | 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. |
8And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. | 8Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city. |
9If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. | 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. |
10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! | 10Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah! |
11“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. | 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. |
12“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? | 12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this--animals trampling on my courtyards? |
13Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. | 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! |
14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. | 14I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. |
15When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. | 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. |
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, | 16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning! |
17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. | 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! |
18“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. | 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. |
19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; | 19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. |
20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” | 20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the LORD has spoken. |
21How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. | 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. |
22Your silver has become dross, your best wine mixed with water. | 22Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. |
23Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them. | 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. |
24Therefore the Lord declares, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes. | 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. |
25I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy. | 25I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag. |
26And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” | 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.'" |
27Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. | 27Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. |
28But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. | 28All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish. |
29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen. | 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. |
30For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water. | 30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. |
31And the strong shall become tinder, and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together, with none to quench them. | 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. |
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