The charge against Judah
The vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Listen, heavens; pay attention, earth, because the LORD has spoken: ‘I raised children and brought them up, but they rebelled against me.’ The ox knows its owner, and the donkey knows its master's feed trough, but Israel doesn't know; my people don't stop to think. What a sinful nation — a people weighed down with wrongdoing, offspring of evildoers, children who corrupt themselves. They've abandoned the LORD, provoked the Holy One of Israel, and turned away from him. Why should you be struck any more? You'll only keep rebelling. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot to the head there's nothing sound — only wounds, bruises and festering sores, neither closed nor bandaged nor soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land right in front of you, leaving it desolate as though foreigners had overthrown it. The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. If the LORD Almighty hadn't left us a very small group of survivors, we'd have become like Sodom and ended up like Gomorrah.
The vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Listen, heavens. Pay attention, earth. Because the Lord is speaking: I raised children and brought them up, and they've turned on me. The ox knows its owner and the donkey knows its master's feed trough, but Israel doesn't know. My people don't understand. What a state — a nation full of sin, a people loaded down with guilt, a mob of wrongdoers, children gone rotten. They've walked out on the Lord, they've sneered at the Holy One of Israel, they've turned their backs and gone. Why keep copping it? Why keep on rebelling? Your whole head is battered, your whole heart is sick. From the soles of your feet to the top of your head there's nothing sound — just wounds and welts and open sores, not cleaned, not bandaged, not eased with oil. Your country's a wreck. Your towns are burnt down. Strangers are eating your fields bare while you stand there watching — wrecked, the way a place is wrecked when strangers overrun it. Daughter Zion is left like a lean-to in a vineyard, like a shed in a melon patch, like a town under siege. If the Lord Almighty hadn't left us a few survivors, we'd have gone the way of Sodom, we'd have finished up like Gomorrah.
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. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 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 strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
The vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
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.
Listen, heavens; pay attention, earth, because the LORD has spoken: ‘I raised children and brought them up, but they rebelled against me.’
Listen, heavens. Pay attention, earth. Because the Lord is speaking: I raised children and brought them up, and they've turned on me.
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey knows its master's feed trough, but Israel doesn't know; my people don't stop to think.
The ox knows its owner and the donkey knows its master's feed trough, but Israel doesn't know. My people don't understand.
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
What a sinful nation — a people weighed down with wrongdoing, offspring of evildoers, children who corrupt themselves. They've abandoned the LORD, provoked the Holy One of Israel, and turned away from him.
What a state — a nation full of sin, a people loaded down with guilt, a mob of wrongdoers, children gone rotten. They've walked out on the Lord, they've sneered at the Holy One of Israel, they've turned their backs and gone.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Why should you be struck any more? You'll only keep rebelling. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint.
Why keep copping it? Why keep on rebelling? Your whole head is battered, your whole heart is sick.
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
From the sole of the foot to the head there's nothing sound — only wounds, bruises and festering sores, neither closed nor bandaged nor soothed with ointment.
From the soles of your feet to the top of your head there's nothing sound — just wounds and welts and open sores, not cleaned, not bandaged, not eased with oil.
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land right in front of you, leaving it desolate as though foreigners had overthrown it.
Your country's a wreck. Your towns are burnt down. Strangers are eating your fields bare while you stand there watching — wrecked, the way a place is wrecked when strangers overrun it.
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 strangers.
The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege.
Daughter Zion is left like a lean-to in a vineyard, like a shed in a melon patch, like a town under siege.
And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
If the LORD Almighty hadn't left us a very small group of survivors, we'd have become like Sodom and ended up like Gomorrah.
If the Lord Almighty hadn't left us a few survivors, we'd have gone the way of Sodom, we'd have finished up like Gomorrah.
Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Worship without justice
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah. ‘What good are all your sacrifices to me?’ says the LORD. ‘I've had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.’ ‘When you come to appear before me, who asked this of you — this trampling through my courts?’ ‘Stop bringing worthless offerings. Incense is disgusting to me. New moons, sabbaths and assemblies — I cannot put up with wrongdoing mixed into your gatherings.’ ‘Your new moons and appointed feasts I hate. They've become a burden to me; I'm weary of carrying them.’ ‘When you spread out your hands, I'll hide my eyes from you. Even when you make many prayers, I won't listen. Your hands are full of blood.’ ‘Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean. Put the evil of your deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.’ ‘Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge orphans fairly. Plead the widow's cause.’ ‘Come now, and let's reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are scarlet, they'll be as white as snow; though they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool.’ ‘If you're willing and obedient, you'll eat the good of the land.’ ‘But if you refuse and rebel, you'll be devoured by the sword, because the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah. What's the point of all your sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I've had my fill of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed stock. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear in front of me, who asked you to come tramping through my courts? Stop bringing me pointless offerings. Your incense turns my stomach. New moons, sabbaths, the calling of assemblies — I can't stand your gatherings and the wrongdoing that goes with them. Your new moons and your festivals, I hate them with everything in me. They've become a load on my back and I'm tired of carrying them. When you spread out your hands, I'll look the other way. Even when you pray and pray, I'm not listening. Your hands are covered in blood. Wash yourselves. Get clean. Get the evil you're doing out of my sight. Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right. Go after justice. Pull up the one who's crushing others. Look after the orphan. Take up the widow's case. Come on then, let's talk this out, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they'll be white as snow. Though they're red as crimson, they'll be like wool. If you're willing and you'll listen, you'll eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and dig your heels in, the sword will eat you. That's the mouth of the Lord speaking.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: 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. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 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. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
‘What good are all your sacrifices to me?’ says the LORD. ‘I've had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.’
What's the point of all your sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I've had my fill of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed stock. I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: 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.
‘When you come to appear before me, who asked this of you — this trampling through my courts?’
When you come to appear in front of me, who asked you to come tramping through my courts?
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
‘Stop bringing worthless offerings. Incense is disgusting to me. New moons, sabbaths and assemblies — I cannot put up with wrongdoing mixed into your gatherings.’
Stop bringing me pointless offerings. Your incense turns my stomach. New moons, sabbaths, the calling of assemblies — I can't stand your gatherings and the wrongdoing that goes with them.
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
‘Your new moons and appointed feasts I hate. They've become a burden to me; I'm weary of carrying them.’
Your new moons and your festivals, I hate them with everything in me. They've become a load on my back and I'm tired of carrying them.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
‘When you spread out your hands, I'll hide my eyes from you. Even when you make many prayers, I won't listen. Your hands are full of blood.’
When you spread out your hands, I'll look the other way. Even when you pray and pray, I'm not listening. Your hands are covered in blood.
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.
‘Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean. Put the evil of your deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.’
Wash yourselves. Get clean. Get the evil you're doing out of my sight. Stop doing wrong.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
‘Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge orphans fairly. Plead the widow's cause.’
Learn to do right. Go after justice. Pull up the one who's crushing others. Look after the orphan. Take up the widow's case.
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
‘Come now, and let's reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are scarlet, they'll be as white as snow; though they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool.’
Come on then, let's talk this out, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they'll be white as snow. Though they're red as crimson, they'll be like wool.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
‘If you're willing and obedient, you'll eat the good of the land.’
If you're willing and you'll listen, you'll eat the good of the land.
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
‘But if you refuse and rebel, you'll be devoured by the sword, because the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’
But if you refuse and dig your heels in, the sword will eat you. That's the mouth of the Lord speaking.
But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
The faithful city
How has the faithful city become like a prostitute? It was full of justice; righteousness once lived there — but now, murderers. Your silver has become slag, and your wine is watered down. Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one of them loves gifts and chases rewards. They don't judge orphans fairly, and the widow's cause never reaches them. So the LORD, the LORD Almighty, the mighty One of Israel, says: ‘Ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries and avenge myself on my enemies.’ I'll turn my hand against you. I'll burn out your slag as with lye and take away everything cheap in you. I'll restore your judges as they were at first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. After that you'll be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion will be redeemed with justice, and those who return to her with righteousness. Transgressors and sinners will be destroyed together, and those who abandon the LORD will be consumed. You'll be ashamed of the oaks you desired, and embarrassed by the gardens you chose. You'll be like an oak with its leaves falling off, like a garden with no water. The strong will be like tow, and the maker of it like a spark. They'll both burn together, and nobody will put them out.
Look what's become of the faithful city. She used to be full of justice, righteousness lived in her — and now it's murderers. Your silver's turned to slag. Your good wine's been watered down. Your leaders are rebels, mates with thieves. Every one of them loves a bribe and chases a payoff. They don't take up the orphan's case, and the widow's case never gets a hearing. So here's what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: Right then. I'll get relief from my enemies. I'll settle accounts with my foes. I'll turn my hand against you. I'll burn out your slag as with lye and take away everything cheap in you. I'll give you judges again like the ones you had at first, and counsellors like at the start. After that you'll be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those in her who turn back, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who walk out on the Lord will be finished. You'll be ashamed of the sacred oaks you were so keen on, and made a fool of over the gardens you chose. You'll be like an oak with its leaves falling off, like a garden with no water. The strong man will be tinder and his work the spark, and the two will burn together with nobody to put it out.
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 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. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
How has the faithful city become like a prostitute? It was full of justice; righteousness once lived there — but now, murderers.
Look what's become of the faithful city. She used to be full of justice, righteousness lived in her — and now it's murderers.
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Your silver has become slag, and your wine is watered down.
Your silver's turned to slag. Your good wine's been watered down.
Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one of them loves gifts and chases rewards. They don't judge orphans fairly, and the widow's cause never reaches them.
Your leaders are rebels, mates with thieves. Every one of them loves a bribe and chases a payoff. They don't take up the orphan's case, and the widow's case never gets a hearing.
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
So the LORD, the LORD Almighty, the mighty One of Israel, says: ‘Ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries and avenge myself on my enemies.’
So here's what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: Right then. I'll get relief from my enemies. I'll settle accounts with my foes.
Therefore saith the LORD, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
I'll turn my hand against you. I'll burn out your slag as with lye and take away everything cheap in you.
And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
I'll restore your judges as they were at first, and your counsellors as at the beginning. After that you'll be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.
I'll give you judges again like the ones you had at first, and counsellors like at the start. After that you'll be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.
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.
Zion will be redeemed with justice, and those who return to her with righteousness.
Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those in her who turn back, by righteousness.
Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
Transgressors and sinners will be destroyed together, and those who abandon the LORD will be consumed.
But rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who walk out on the Lord will be finished.
And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
You'll be ashamed of the oaks you desired, and embarrassed by the gardens you chose.
You'll be ashamed of the sacred oaks you were so keen on, and made a fool of over the gardens you chose.
For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
You'll be like an oak with its leaves falling off, like a garden with no water.
For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.
The strong will be like tow, and the maker of it like a spark. They'll both burn together, and nobody will put them out.
The strong man will be tinder and his work the spark, and the two will burn together with nobody to put it out.
And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.