Isaiah 1:1-31 NKJV

[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: "I have nourished and brought up children, And 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 consider." [4] Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. [5] Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. [6] From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. [7] Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. [8] So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city. [9] Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. [10] Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: [11] "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. [12] "When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? [13] Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. [14] Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble 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 hear. Your hands are full of blood. [16] "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, [17] Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. [18] "Come now, and 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 be as 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 devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. [21] How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers. [22] Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. [23] Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. [24] Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies. [25] I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. [26] I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." [27] Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness. [28] The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. [29] For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you have chosen. [30] For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden that has no water. [31] The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both will burn together, And no one shall quench them.