International Standard Version | NET Bible |
1This is the vision that Amoz's son Isaiah had about Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. | 1Here 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. |
2Listen, you heavens, and let the earth pay attention, because the LORD has spoken: "I reared children and brought them to adulthood, but then they rebelled against me. | 2Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me! |
3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel doesn't know, and my people don't understand. | 3An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand." |
4"Oh, you sinful nation! You people burdened down by iniquity! You offspring of those who keep practicing what is evil! You corrupt children! "They've abandoned the LORD; they've despised the Holy One of Israel; in their estrangement, they've walked away from me. | 4The sinful nation is as good as dead, the people weighed down by evil deeds. They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things. They have abandoned the LORD, and rejected the Holy One of Israel. They are alienated from him. |
5"Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? Your whole head is sick, and your whole heart is faint. | 5Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak. |
6From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there's no soundness evident — only bruises, sores, and festering wounds that haven't been cleaned out, bandaged, or treated with oil." | 6From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil. |
7"Your country lies desolate; your cities have been incinerated. Before your very eyes, foreigners are devouring your land— they've brought devastation on it, while the land is overthrown by foreigners. | 7Your land is devastated, your cities burned with fire. Right before your eyes your crops are being destroyed by foreign invaders. They leave behind devastation and destruction. |
8"The daughter of Zion is left abandoned, like a booth in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, or like a city under siege. | 8Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city. |
9If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies hadn't left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom; we would be like Gomorrah. | 9If the LORD who commands armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly become like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah. |
10"Listen to what the LORD says, you rulers of Sodom, and pay attention to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! | 10Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah! |
11"How do your voluminous sacrifices benefit me?" the LORD is asking. "I've had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don't enjoy the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. | 11"Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want. |
12"When you come to present yourselves in my presence, who has required you to trample on my courts? | 12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this--animals trampling on my courtyards? |
13Stop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly. | 13Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! |
14As for your New Moons and your appointed festivals, I abhor them. They've become a burden to me; I've grown weary of carrying that burden. | 14I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. |
15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I'll hide my eyes from you. Even though you pray repeatedly, I won't listen. Your hands are full of blood, your fingers drenched with iniquity." | 15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood. |
16"Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean; remove your evil behavior from my presence; stop practicing what is evil. | 16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning! |
17Learn to practice what is good; seek justice, alleviate oppression, defend orphans in court, and plead the widow's case. | 17Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow! |
18"Please come, and let's reason together," implores the LORD. "Even though your sins are like scarlet, they'll be white like snow. Though they're like crimson, they'll become like wool. | 18Come, let's consider your options," says the LORD. "Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool. |
19If you're willing and obedient, you'll eat the best that the land produces; | 19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. |
20but if you refuse and rebel, you'll be devoured by the sword, because the LORD has spoken." | 20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the LORD has spoken. |
21"How the faithful city has become a whore, she who used to be filled with justice! Righteousness used to reside within her, but now only murderers live there. | 21How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers. |
22Your silver has become dross, your best wine is diluted with water. | 22Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. |
23Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. All of them are lovers of bribes and are runners after gifts. They don't bring justice to orphans, and the widow's case never comes up for review in their court." | 23Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow. |
24Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies, the one who is Israel's Mighty One, declares: "Now I'll get relief from his enemies and avenge myself on his foes. | 24Therefore, the sovereign LORD who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: "Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies. |
25When I turn my attention to you, I'll refine your dross as in a furnace. I'll remove all your alloy. | 25I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag. |
26Let me restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you'll be called 'The Righteous City' and 'The Faithful City of Zion'. | 26I will reestablish honest judges as in former times, wise advisers as in earlier days. Then you will be called, 'The Just City, Faithful Town.'" |
27"Zion will be redeemed by justice, and her repentant ones by righteousness. | 27Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. |
28Rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD will be consumed. | 28All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish. |
29They'll be ashamed of the oak trees that you desired; and you'll blush because of the gardens that you have chosen. | 29Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship. |
30You'll be like an oak whose leaf is withering, like an unwatered garden. | 30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. |
31Your strong one will be like tinder, and your work a spark; both of them will burn together, with no one to quench the flames that burn them." | 31The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire. |
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