Isaiah

MLV(i) 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 listen, O earth, for Jehovah has spoken. I have nourished and brought up sons and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows his owner and the donkey his master's crib, but Israel does not know; my people does not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Jehovah. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have gone away backward.
5 Why will you* still be stricken, that you* revolt more and more? 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 wounds and bruises and fresh stripes. They have not been closed nor bound up nor soothed with oil.
7 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. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a shed in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
9 Unless Jehovah of hosts had left to us a seed, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of Jehovah, you* rulers of Sodom, listen to the law of our God, you* people of Gomorrah.
11 What to me is the multitude of your* sacrifices? says Jehovah. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. And I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of male-goats. 12 When you* come to appear before me, who has required this at your* hand–to trample my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations. Incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies–I cannot bear wickedness and the solemn assembly. 14 Your* new moons and your* appointed feasts my soul hates. They are a trouble to me. I am weary of bearing them.
15 And when you* spread forth your* hands, I will hide my eyes from you*. Yes, when you* make many prayers, I will not hear; your* hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you*, make you* clean, put away the evil of your* practices from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. 17 Learn to do good. Seek justice, make the oppressed fortunate, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now and let us reason together, says Jehovah, though your* sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool.
19 If you* are willing and obedient, you* will eat the good of the land. 20 But if you* refuse and rebel, you* will be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.
21 How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. 23 Your rulers are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They judge not the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come to them.
24 Therefore says the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies. 25 And I will turn my hand upon you and thoroughly purge away your dross and will take away all your tin. 26 And I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful town.
27 Zion will be redeemed with justice and her converts with righteousness.
28 But the destruction of transgressors and sinners will be together and those who forsake Jehovah will be consumed. 29 For they will be ashamed of the oaks which you* have desired and you* will be confounded for the gardens that you* have chosen. 30 For you* will be as an oak whose leaf fades and as a garden that has no water. 31 And the strong man will be as flax and his work as a spark. And they will both burn together and none will quench them.