Judah's Rebellion 1The Visions of Isaiah son of Amoz, that he hath seen concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For Jehovah hath spoken: Sons I have nourished and brought up, And they -- they transgressed against Me. 3An ox hath known its owner, And an ass the crib of its master, Israel hath not known, My people hath not understood. 4Ah, sinning nation, a people heavy with iniquity, A seed of evil doers, sons -- corrupters! They have forsaken Jehovah, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have gone away backward. 5Wherefore are ye stricken any more? Ye do add apostasy! Every head is become diseased, and every heart is sick. 6From the sole of the foot -- unto the head, There is no soundness in it, Wound, and bruise, and fresh smiting! They have not been closed nor bound, Nor have they softened with ointment. 7Your land is a desolation, your cities burnt with fire, Your ground, before you strangers are consuming it, And a desolation as overthrown by strangers! 8And left hath been the daughter of Zion, As a booth in a vineyard, As a lodge in a place of cucumbers -- as a city besieged. 9Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left to us a remnant, Shortly -- as Sodom we had been, To Gomorrah we had been like! Meaningless Offerings 10Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom, Give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah, 11Why to Me the abundance of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah, I have been satiated with burnt-offerings of rams, And fat of fatlings; And blood of bullocks, and lambs, And he-goats I have not desired. 12When ye come in to appear before Me, Who hath required this of your hand, To trample My courts? 13Add not to bring in a vain present, Incense -- an abomination it is to Me, New moon, and sabbath, calling of convocation! Rendure not iniquity -- and a restraint! 14Your new moons and your set seasons hath My soul hated, They have been upon me for a burden, I have been weary of bearing. 15And in your spreading forth your hands, I hide mine eyes from you, Also when ye increase prayer, I do not hear, Your hands of blood have been full. 16Wash ye, make ye pure, Turn aside the evil of your doings, from before Mine eyes, Cease to do evil, learn to do good. 17Seek judgment, make happy the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, strive for the widow. 18Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be! 19If ye are willing, and have hearkened, The good of the land ye consume, 20And if ye refuse, and have rebelled, By the sword ye are consumed, For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken. Zion Corrupted 21How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it with judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it -- now murderers. 22Thy silver hath become dross, Thy drink polluted with water. 23Thy princes are apostates, and companions of thieves, Every one loving a bribe, and pursuing rewards, The fatherless they judge not, And the plea of the widow cometh not to them. 24Therefore -- the affirmation of the Lord -- Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I am eased of Mine adversaries, And I am avenged of Mine enemies, 25And I turn back My hand upon thee, And I refine as purity thy dross, And I turn aside all thy tin, 26And I give back thy judges as at the first, And thy counsellors as in the beginning, After this thou art called, 'A city of righteousness -- a faithful city.' 27Zion in judgment is redeemed, And her captivity in righteousness. 28And the destruction of transgressors and sinners is together, And those forsaking Jehovah are consumed. 29For men are ashamed because of the oaks That ye have desired, And ye are confounded because of the gardens That ye have chosen. 30For ye are as an oak whose leaf is fading, And as a garden that hath no water. 31And the strong hath been for tow, And his work for a spark, And burned have both of them together, And there is none quenching! |
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