NET Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
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. | 1The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah. |
2Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me! | 2Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the LORD has spoken: "I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. |
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." | 3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand." |
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. | 4Oh sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs on him. |
5Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak. | 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 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. | 6From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured--wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. |
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. | 7Your land is desolate, your cities burned down; foreigners devour your fields right in front of you--a desolation, like a place demolished by foreigners. |
8Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city. | 8Daughter Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. |
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. | 9If the LORD of Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah. |
10Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah! | 10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! |
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. | 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. |
12When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this--animals trampling on my courtyards? | 12When you come to appear before me, who requires this from you--this trampling of my courts? |
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! | 13Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies--I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. |
14I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. | 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 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. | 15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. |
16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning! | 16"Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. |
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! | 17Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause. |
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. | 18"Come, let us settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. |
19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. | 19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. |
20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the LORD has spoken. | 20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. |
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. | 21The faithful town--what an adulteress she has become! She was once full of justice. Righteousness once dwelt in her, but now, murderers! |
22Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. | 22Your silver has become dross to be discarded, your beer is diluted with water. |
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. | 23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow's case never comes before them. |
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. | 24Therefore the Lord GOD of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: "Ah, I will get even with my foes; I will take revenge against my enemies. |
25I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag. | 25I will turn my hand against you and will burn away your dross completely; I will remove all your impurities. |
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.'" | 26I will restore your judges to what they were at first, and your advisers to what they were at the start. Afterward you will be called the Righteous City, a Faithful Town." |
27Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. | 27Zion will be redeemed by justice, those who repent, by righteousness. |
28All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish. | 28At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken, and those who abandon the LORD will perish. |
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. | 29Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you desired, and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines you have chosen. |
30For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. | 30For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, and like a garden without water. |
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. | 31The strong one will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to extinguish the flames. |
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