Isaiah 1:10-18

Expanded Bible

¹⁰ ·Hear [Listen to] the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom [^CJerusalem is compared sarcastically to evil Sodom and Gomorrah]!
listen to the ·teaching [instruction] of our God,
    You people of Gomorrah!
¹¹ The Lord says,
    “·I do not want all these sacrifices [^LWhat are your many sacrifices to me?].
I ·have had enough of [am stuffed full with] your burnt sacrifices [Lev. 1:1–17]
    of male sheep and fat from ·fine [fattened] ·animals [beasts; cattle].
I ·am not pleased by [take no pleasure in]
    the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
¹² You ·come to meet with [appear before; worship] me,
    but who asked you to do
    all this ·running in and out of [trampling/parading through] my ·Temple’s rooms [courts; courtyards]?
¹³ Don’t continue bringing me ·worthless [meaningless; futile] sacrifices!
    ·I hate the incense you burn [^LIncense is detestable/an abomination to me].
I can’t stand your New Moons, Sabbaths, and ·other feast days [convocations; sacred assemblies];
    I can’t ·stand [endure] ·the evil you do in your holy meetings [^Lsin and assembly].
¹⁴ I hate your New Moon ·feasts [festivals; Num. 28:11–15]
    and your ·other yearly [annual; appointed] feasts.
They have become a ·heavy weight on [burden to] me,
    and I ·am tired of carrying it [or can no longer tolerate them].
¹⁵ When you ·raise your arms to me [^Lspread out your hands] in prayer,
    I will ·refuse to look at [look the other way; ^Lhide my eyes from] you.
Even if you say many prayers,
    I will not listen to you,
because your hands are ·full of [covered with] blood.
¹⁶ Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
    ·Stop doing the evil things I see you do [^LTake away your evil deeds from my eyes].
Stop doing wrong.
¹⁷     Learn to do ·good [right].
Seek justice.
    ·Punish those who hurt others [Rebuke the oppressor; or Encourage the oppressed].
·Help [Defend; Bring justice to] the ·orphans [fatherless].
    ·Stand up for the rights of [^LContend/Strive for] widows.”

¹⁸ The Lord says,
    “Come, let us ·talk about these things [reason together; or settle this matter; or consider your options].
Though your sins are like scarlet [^Cstained with blood; vv. 15, 21],
    they can be as white as snow.
Though your sins are ·deep red [^Lred as crimson/purple],
    they can be white like wool.