1:1 Here 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.¹

1:2 Listen, O heavens,
pay attention, O earth!²
For the LORD speaks.
“I raised children,³ I brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
1:3 An ox recognizes its owner,
a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food;⁴
but Israel does not recognize me,⁵
my people do not understand.”
1:4⁶ The sinful nation is as good as dead,⁷
the people weighed down by evil deeds.
They are offspring who do wrong,
children⁸ who do wicked things.
They have abandoned the LORD,
and rejected the sovereign king of Israel.⁹
They are alienated from him.¹⁰
1:5¹¹ Why do you insist on being battered?
Why do you continue to rebel?¹²
Your head has a massive wound,¹³
your whole body is weak.¹⁴
1:6 From the soles of your feet to your head,
there is no spot that is unharmed.¹⁵
There are only bruises, cuts,
and open wounds.
They have not been cleansed¹⁶ or bandaged,
nor have they been treated¹⁷ with olive oil.
1:7 Your land is devastated,
your cities burned with fire.
Right before your eyes your crops
are being destroyed by foreign invaders.¹⁸
They leave behind devastation and destruction.¹⁹
1:8 Daughter Zion²⁰ is left isolated,
like a hut in a vineyard,
or a shelter in a cucumber field;
she is a besieged city.²¹
1:9 If the LORD who leads armies²² had not left us some survivors,
we would have quickly become like Sodom,²³
we would have become like Gomorrah.
1:10 Listen to the LORD’s word,
you leaders of Sodom!²⁴
Pay attention to our God’s rebuke,²⁵
people of Gomorrah!
1:11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?”²⁶
says the LORD.
“I am stuffed with²⁷ burnt sacrifices
of rams and the fat from steers.
The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats
I do not want.²⁸
1:12 When you enter my presence,
do you actually think I want this—
animals trampling on my courtyards?²⁹
1:13 Don’t bring anymore meaningless³⁰ offerings;
I consider your incense detestable.
You observe new moon festivals, sabbaths, and convocations,
but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations.³¹
1:14 I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies;
they are a burden
that I’m tired of carrying.
1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I look the other way;³²
when you offer your many prayers,
I don’t listen,
because your hands are covered with blood.³³
1:16³⁴ Wash! Cleanse yourselves!
Remove your sinful deeds
from my sight.
Stop sinning!
1:17 Learn to do what is right!
Promote justice!
Give the oppressed reason to celebrate!³⁵
Take up the cause of the orphan!
Defend the rights of the widow!³⁶
1:18³⁷ Come, let’s consider your options,”³⁸ says the LORD.
“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,
you can become³⁹ white like snow;
though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,
you can become⁴⁰ white like wool.⁴¹
1:19 If you have a willing attitude and obey,⁴²
then you will again eat the good crops of the land.
1:20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured⁴³ by the sword.”
Know for certain that the LORD has spoken.⁴⁴

1:21 How tragic that the once faithful city
has become a prostitute!⁴⁵
She was once a center of⁴⁶ justice,
fairness resided in her,
but now only murderers.⁴⁷
1:22 Your⁴⁸ silver has become scum,⁴⁹
your beer is diluted with water.⁵⁰
1:23 Your officials are rebels,⁵¹
they hang around with⁵² thieves.
All of them love bribery,
and look for⁵³ payoffs.
They do not take up the cause of the orphan,⁵⁴
or defend the rights of the widow.⁵⁵
1:24 Therefore, the sovereign LORD who leads armies,⁵⁶
the powerful ruler of Israel,⁵⁷ says this:
“Ah, I will seek vengeance⁵⁸ against my adversaries,
I will get revenge against my enemies.⁵⁹
1:25 I will attack you;⁶⁰
I will purify your metal with flux.⁶¹
I will remove all your slag.⁶²
1:26 I will reestablish honest judges as in former times,
wise advisers as in earlier days.⁶³
Then you will be called, ‘The Just City,
Faithful Town.’“
1:27⁶⁴ Zion will be freed when justice is established,⁶⁵
she will be released when fairness is restored.⁶⁶
1:28 All rebellious sinners will be shattered,⁶⁷
those who abandon the LORD will perish.
1:29 Indeed you⁶⁸ will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you⁶⁹ find so desirable,
you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards⁷⁰
where you choose to worship.
1:30 For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,
like an orchard⁷¹ that is unwatered.
1:31 The powerful will be like⁷² a thread of yarn,
their deeds like a spark;
both will burn,
and no one will put out the fire.