Isaiah 1
Judah's Rebellion
This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isaiah 1:1 • BSB
Now listen, O heavens! And hearken, O earth!
For Yahweh has spoken, says he:
I've nourished your children and raised them from birth,
but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master and touch of his hand,
the ass knows the crib in its stall,
but Israel simply does not understand;
my people don't know me at all.
Alas, sinful nation, your great guilt is earned,
your children are nurtured in sin!
Forsaking the LORD; and the holy One spurned,
and you've turned your backs upon him.
For why would you wish to be struck anymore?
And, why must you go and rebel?
The whole head is hurting and painfully sore,
the whole heart is faint and unwell.
From your weary soles to the top of your head
are bruises and welts to be found.
They've neither been bandaged nor cleansed where they've bled,
nor cared for with ointment and bound.
Your country's in ruins, your towns are aflame,
your fields stripped of all you have grown,
devoured by strangers while you watched in vain,
by foreigners, they're overthrown.
The daughter of Zion is much like a booth,
a shelter where grapevines are grown;
a hut in a cucumber field, but in truth,
a city besieged and alone.
If Yahweh of hosts had not left some behind,
a remnant that he left to dwell,
then we'd be like Sodom with no one to find,
or bare like Gomorrah as well.
For Yahweh has spoken, says he:
I've nourished your children and raised them from birth,
but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master and touch of his hand,
the ass knows the crib in its stall,
but Israel simply does not understand;
my people don't know me at all.
Alas, sinful nation, your great guilt is earned,
your children are nurtured in sin!
Forsaking the LORD; and the holy One spurned,
and you've turned your backs upon him.
For why would you wish to be struck anymore?
And, why must you go and rebel?
The whole head is hurting and painfully sore,
the whole heart is faint and unwell.
From your weary soles to the top of your head
are bruises and welts to be found.
They've neither been bandaged nor cleansed where they've bled,
nor cared for with ointment and bound.
Your country's in ruins, your towns are aflame,
your fields stripped of all you have grown,
devoured by strangers while you watched in vain,
by foreigners, they're overthrown.
The daughter of Zion is much like a booth,
a shelter where grapevines are grown;
a hut in a cucumber field, but in truth,
a city besieged and alone.
If Yahweh of hosts had not left some behind,
a remnant that he left to dwell,
then we'd be like Sodom with no one to find,
or bare like Gomorrah as well.
Meaningless Offerings
Give ear to the word of the LORD that he gives,
you rulers of Sodom, give ear!
Give ear to the law of our God as he lives,
you ones of Gomorrah, now hear!
What purpose have I in your sacrificed things?
I'm full of your cattle and rams.
No pleasure is had in your burnt offerings,
the blood of your bulls, goats, and lambs.
When you come to worship and seek out my face,
who asked you trample the courts of this place?
Don't bring me your meaningless off'rings you've slain!
Your incense — I simply abhor.
Your new moons and sabbaths and feasts are in vain,
I cannot endure anymore!
I hate your new moons and your festival feast:
they're burdensome that I can't stand in the least.
Whenever you spread out your hands and you pray,
ignoring your prayers, will I stand.
Your prayers may be many, yet I'll turn away,
because you have blood on your hand.
Then wash yourselves, cleanse yourselves, make yourselves clean;
remove evil deeds from my sight.
Learn goodness, defend the oppressed and the mean,
the orphan and poor widow's plight.
Let's reason together: though your sins be red,
they then shall be whiter than snow;
though they be as scarlet, Jehovah has said,
they'll be white as wool, even so.
If you'd only hear and obey me complete,
then you'd have the best in the land you could eat.
Resist and rebel — be consumed by the sword,
for thus I have spoken, Jehovah, the LORD.
Give ear to the word of the LORD that he gives,
you rulers of Sodom, give ear!
Give ear to the law of our God as he lives,
you ones of Gomorrah, now hear!
What purpose have I in your sacrificed things?
I'm full of your cattle and rams.
No pleasure is had in your burnt offerings,
the blood of your bulls, goats, and lambs.
When you come to worship and seek out my face,
who asked you trample the courts of this place?
Don't bring me your meaningless off'rings you've slain!
Your incense — I simply abhor.
Your new moons and sabbaths and feasts are in vain,
I cannot endure anymore!
I hate your new moons and your festival feast:
they're burdensome that I can't stand in the least.
Whenever you spread out your hands and you pray,
ignoring your prayers, will I stand.
Your prayers may be many, yet I'll turn away,
because you have blood on your hand.
Then wash yourselves, cleanse yourselves, make yourselves clean;
remove evil deeds from my sight.
Learn goodness, defend the oppressed and the mean,
the orphan and poor widow's plight.
Let's reason together: though your sins be red,
they then shall be whiter than snow;
though they be as scarlet, Jehovah has said,
they'll be white as wool, even so.
If you'd only hear and obey me complete,
then you'd have the best in the land you could eat.
Resist and rebel — be consumed by the sword,
for thus I have spoken, Jehovah, the LORD.
Zion Corrupted
This once faithful city is now but a whore!
Once known for her justice as well;
once righteousness lodged here, but not anymore,
now this is where murderers dwell.
The silver you mine is but dross and like tin;
and your choicest wine is now watered and thin.
Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves,
pursuing their bribes in their greed;
they don't care what treatment the orphan receives,
nor aid what the poor widows need.
The LORD of the Heavenly Hosts has declared,
the Mighty One, I will with ease
dispatch of my foes so that none will be spared,
avenge me of my enemies.
And I will take action to purify you,
removing your dross you've allowed to accrue.
I'll give you good judges and trustworthy men,
wise counsel as you had before.
Then you will be called Home of Justice again,
and called Faithful City once more.
With justice will Zion be truly redeemed;
her converts, with righteousness, will be esteemed.
But rebels and sinners will surely be doomed;
forsaking the LORD — they'll be wholly consumed.
And you'll be ashamed of the idols you've placed
in groves where the scarlet oak grows;
and you'll be embarrassed and greatly disgraced
polluting those gardens you chose.
You'll be like an oak tree whose leaves fade and die,
or garden without any water nearby.
The strongest become just like tinder, they learn,
the spark is their works, all the same;
for they and their evil, together, will burn
and none will extinguish that flame.
This once faithful city is now but a whore!
Once known for her justice as well;
once righteousness lodged here, but not anymore,
now this is where murderers dwell.
The silver you mine is but dross and like tin;
and your choicest wine is now watered and thin.
Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves,
pursuing their bribes in their greed;
they don't care what treatment the orphan receives,
nor aid what the poor widows need.
The LORD of the Heavenly Hosts has declared,
the Mighty One, I will with ease
dispatch of my foes so that none will be spared,
avenge me of my enemies.
And I will take action to purify you,
removing your dross you've allowed to accrue.
I'll give you good judges and trustworthy men,
wise counsel as you had before.
Then you will be called Home of Justice again,
and called Faithful City once more.
With justice will Zion be truly redeemed;
her converts, with righteousness, will be esteemed.
But rebels and sinners will surely be doomed;
forsaking the LORD — they'll be wholly consumed.
And you'll be ashamed of the idols you've placed
in groves where the scarlet oak grows;
and you'll be embarrassed and greatly disgraced
polluting those gardens you chose.
You'll be like an oak tree whose leaves fade and die,
or garden without any water nearby.
The strongest become just like tinder, they learn,
the spark is their works, all the same;
for they and their evil, together, will burn
and none will extinguish that flame.
BSB: Berean Standard Bible
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