13 Bring no more vain offerings;
    incense is an abomination to me.
(A)New moon and Sabbath and the (B)calling of convocations—
    I cannot endure (C)iniquity and (D)solemn assembly.
14 Your (E)new moons and your appointed feasts
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
    I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you (F)spread out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
(G)even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    (H)your hands are full of blood.
16 (I)Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
(J)cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
(K)seek justice,
    correct oppression;
(L)bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

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13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!(A)
    Your incense(B) is detestable(C) to me.
New Moons,(D) Sabbaths and convocations(E)
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon(F) feasts and your appointed festivals(G)
    I hate with all my being.(H)
They have become a burden to me;(I)
    I am weary(J) of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands(K) in prayer,
    I hide(L) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.(M)

Your hands(N) are full of blood!(O)

16 Wash(P) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(Q)
    stop doing wrong.(R)
17 Learn to do right;(S) seek justice.(T)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](U)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(V)
    plead the case of the widow.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor

13-17 “Quit your worship charades.
    I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
    meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
    You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
    while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
    I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
    I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
    people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
    Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
    so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
    Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
    Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
    Go to bat for the defenseless.

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