NET Bible | New Living Translation |
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. | 1These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. A Message for Rebellious 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! Pay attention, earth! This is what the LORD says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled 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." | 3Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care— but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” |
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. | 4Oh, what a sinful nation they are— loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on 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. | 5Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. |
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. | 6You are battered from head to foot— covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds— without any soothing ointments or bandages. |
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 country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see. |
8Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city. | 8Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned like a watchman’s shelter in a vineyard, like a lean-to in a cucumber field after the harvest, like a helpless city under siege. |
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. | 9If the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah. |
10Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah! | 10Listen to the LORD, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, 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 makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. |
12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this--animals trampling on my courtyards? | 12When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? |
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! | 13Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. |
14I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. | 14I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand 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. | 15When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. |
16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning! | 16Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. |
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. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. |
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, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. |
19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. | 19If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. |
20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the LORD has spoken. | 20But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Unfaithful Jerusalem |
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. | 21See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. |
22Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. | 22Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. |
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 leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. |
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, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! |
25I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag. | 25I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities. |
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.'" | 26Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City.” |
27Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. | 27Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness. |
28All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish. | 28But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed, and those who desert the LORD will be consumed. |
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. | 29You will be ashamed of your idol worship in groves of sacred oaks. You will blush because you worshiped in gardens dedicated to idols. |
30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. | 30You will be like a great tree with withered leaves, like a garden without 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 strongest among you will disappear like straw; their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire. They and their evil works will burn up together, and no one will be able to put out the fire. |
|