Isaiah 1:1–20

[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 the LORD has spoken:

“Children have I reared and brought up,

but they have rebelled against me.

[3] The ox knows its owner,

and the donkey its master’s crib,

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.”

[4] Ah, 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.

[5] Why will you still be struck down?

Why will you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick,

and the whole heart faint.

[6] From 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.

[7] Your country lies desolate;

your cities are burned with fire;

in your very presence

foreigners devour your land;

it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.

[8] And the daughter of Zion is left

like a booth in a vineyard,

like a lodge in a cucumber field,

like a besieged city.

[9] If the LORD of hosts

had not left us a few survivors,

we should have been like Sodom,

and become like Gomorrah.

[10] Hear the word of the LORD,

you rulers of Sodom!

Give ear to the teaching of our God,

you 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.

[12] “When you come to appear before me,

who has required of you

this trampling of my courts?

[13] Bring 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.

[14] Your new moons and your appointed feasts

my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

[15] When 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.

[16] Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

[17] learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow’s cause.

[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.

[19] If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

[20] but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be eaten by the sword;

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (ESV)