Isaiah 1
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2 Kgs 15.1–7; 15.32—16.20; 18.1—20.21; 2 Chr 26.1—32.33 This book contains the messages about Judah and Jerusalem which God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.
God Reprimands his People
2The LORD said, “Earth and sky, listen to what I am saying! The children I brought up have rebelled against me. 3Cattle know who owns them, and donkeys know where their master feeds them. But that is more than my people Israel know. They don't understand at all.”
4You are doomed, you sinful nation, you corrupt and evil people! Your sins drag you down! You have rejected the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and have turned your backs on him. 5Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? Israel, your head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and mind are sick. 6From head to foot there is not a healthy spot on your body. You are covered with bruises and sores and open wounds. Your wounds have not been cleaned or bandaged. No ointment has been put on them.
7Your country has been devastated, and your cities have been burnt to the ground. While you look on, foreigners take over your land and bring everything to ruin. 8Jerusalem alone is left, a city under siege — as defenceless as a guard's hut in a vineyard or a shed in a cucumber field. 9#Gen 19.24; Rom 9.29If the LORD Almighty had not let some of the people survive, Jerusalem would have been totally destroyed, just as Sodom and Gomorrah were.
10Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. 11#Amos 5.21–22He says, “Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. 12Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping about in my Temple? 13It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. 14I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing.
15“When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. 16Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil 17and learn to do right. See that justice is done — help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows.”
18The LORD says, “Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow.#1.18 sin, but… snow; or sin; do you think I will wash you as clean as snow? Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.#1.18 Although your… wool; or Your stains are deep red; do you think you will be as white as wool? 19If you will only obey me, you will eat the good things the land produces. 20But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the LORD, have spoken.”
The Sinful City
21The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain. 22Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water. 23Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.
24So now, listen to what the LORD Almighty, Israel's powerful God, is saying: “I will take revenge on you, my enemies, and you will cause me no more trouble. 25I will take action against you. I will purify you just as metal is refined, and will remove all your impurity. 26I will give you rulers and advisers like those you had long ago. Then Jerusalem will be called the righteous, faithful city.”
27Because the LORD is righteous, he will save Jerusalem and everyone there who repents. 28But he will crush everyone who sins and rebels against him; he will kill everyone who forsakes him.
29You will be sorry that you ever worshipped trees and planted sacred gardens.#1.29 sacred gardens: People believed that dedicating a garden to a fertility god would cause him to bless their crops. 30You will wither like a dying oak, like a garden that no one waters. 31Just as straw is set on fire by a spark, so powerful people will be destroyed by their own evil deeds, and no one will be able to stop the destruction.
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Isaiah 1: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Isaiah 1
1
1The vision # Pr 29:18; Dn 8:1; Ob 1; Nah 1:1; Hab 2:2-3 concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah # Is 2:1; 13:1 son of Amoz saw during the reigns # Lit saw in the days # ca 792–686 b.c. of Uzziah, # 2Ch 26:3-5 Jotham, # 2Kg 15:32-38 Ahaz, # 2Kg 16:1-4 and Hezekiah, # 2Kg 18:1-8 kings of Judah. # Hs 1:1; Mc 1:1
Judah on Trial
2Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, # Dt 4:26; 32:1; Is 30:1; Mc 1:2
for the Lord has spoken:
“I have raised children # Or sons and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against Me. # Is 30:1
3The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,
but Israel does not know;
My people do not understand.” # Jr 8:7
4Oh sinful nation,
people weighed down with iniquity, # Is 13:11
brood of evildoers, # Is 14:20; Mt 3:7
depraved children! # Or sons
They have abandoned # Dt 4:31 the Lord;
they have despised # Nm 14:11; Dt 31:20; Pr 5:12; Is 5:24 the Holy One of Israel; # Is 5:19,24; 10:20; 12:6; 29:19; 30:11-15
they have turned their backs on Him.
5Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep on rebelling?
The whole head is hurt,
and the whole heart is sick.
6From the sole of the foot even to the head, # Jb 2:7
no spot is uninjured # Ps 38:3 —
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.
7Your land is desolate,
your cities burned with fire; # Lv 26:33; Dt 28:51-52; Is 6:11-12; Jr 44:6
foreigners devour your fields
before your very eyes —
a desolation demolished by foreigners.
8Daughter Zion # Is 10:32; 37:22; Zch 2:10; 9:9 is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.
9If the Lord of Hosts # 1Sm 17:45
had not left us a few survivors, # Is 10:21-22
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah. # Gn 19:24-25; Is 3:9; 13:19; Rm 9:29
10Hear the word of the Lord, # Is 28:14
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! # Is 3:9; Ezk 16:46-49,55; Rv 11:8
11“What are all your sacrifices to Me? ”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats. # 1Sm 15:22; Jr 6:20; Hs 6:6; Am 5:21-24; Mt 23:23; Mk 12:33
12When you come to appear before Me,
who requires this from you —
this trampling of My courts?
13Stop bringing useless offerings. # Mal 1:10
Your incense is detestable to Me.
New Moons and Sabbaths, # Nm 28:11; 1Ch 23:31
and the calling of solemn assemblies # Ex 12:16; Lv 23:36 —
I cannot stand iniquity # Is 13:11 with a festival.
14I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to Me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15When you lift up your hands in prayer, # 1Kg 8:22
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen. # Is 59:2; Jr 7:16; Ezk 8:18; Am 5:23; Hab 1:2; Zch 7:13
Your hands are covered with blood. # Pr 1:28; Is 59:1-3; Mc 3:4
Purification of Jerusalem
16“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. # Ps 26:6; Is 4:4; 52:11
Remove your evil deeds from My sight.
Stop doing evil. # Jr 25:5
17Learn to do what is good.
Seek justice. # Dt 16:20; 1Kg 3:11; Ps 89:14; Is 10:2; 11:4; Am 5:15; Zch 7:9
Correct the oppressor. # Or Aid the oppressed
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.
18“Come, let us discuss this,” # Is 41:1,21; 43:26; Mc 6:2
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow; # Ps 51:7; Is 43:25; 44:22; Rv 7:14
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
19If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land. # Dt 30:15-20
20But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.” # Jr 12:12
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. # Is 24:3; 40:5; 58:14; Mc 4:4
21The faithful city —
what an adulteress # Or prostitute she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her —
but now, murderers!
22Your silver has become dross, # Or burnished lead
your beer # Or wine is diluted with water.
23Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves. # Hs 5:10
They all love graft
and chase after bribes. # Ex 23:8; Mc 7:2-6
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them. # Ex 22:22; Dt 24:17; Is 10:2; Jr 5:28; Ezk 22:7; Zch 7:10
24Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;
I will take revenge against My enemies. # Is 35:4; 59:18; Jr 46:10
25I will turn My hand against you # Ps 81:14; Is 5:25; Am 1:8
and will burn away your dross # Or burnished lead completely; # Lit dross as with lye
I will remove all your impurities. # Ezk 22:20; Mal 3:3
26I will restore your judges # Is 60:17; Mt 19:28 to what they once were, # Lit judges as at the first
and your advisers to their former state. # Lit advisers as at the beginning
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, # Is 33:5; 60:14; 62:1-2; Zch 8:3
a Faithful City.”
27Zion will be redeemed by justice,
her repentant ones by righteousness. # Rm 3:26
28But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29Indeed, they # Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, Tg read you will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired, # Is 2:8; 57:5; Hs 4:13
and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens
you have chosen. # Is 65:3; 66:17
30For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water. # Ps 1:3; Is 64:6
31The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together, # Is 5:24; 9:19; 26:11; 33:11-14
with no one to quench the flames. # Is 66:24; Mt 3:12; Mk 9:43
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