Visión que recibió Isaías, hijo de Amoz, acerca de Judá y Jerusalén, durante los reinados de Uzías, Jotán, Acaz y Ezequías, reyes de Judá.

Judá, nación rebelde

¡Oigan, cielos! ¡Escucha, tierra!
    Porque el Señor ha hablado:
«Yo crie hijos y los hice crecer,
    pero ellos se rebelaron contra mí.
El buey conoce a su dueño
    y el asno el pesebre de su amo;
¡pero Israel no conoce,
    mi pueblo no comprende!».

¡Ay, nación pecadora,
    pueblo cargado de culpa,
generación de malhechores,
    hijos corruptos!
¡Han abandonado al Señor!
    ¡Han despreciado al Santo de Israel!
    ¡Le han dado la espalda!

¿Por qué recibir más golpes?
    ¿Por qué insistir en la rebelión?
Toda su cabeza está herida,
    todo su corazón está enfermo.
Desde la planta del pie hasta la coronilla
    no les queda nada sano:
todo en ellos es heridas, moretones
    y llagas abiertas,
que no les han sido curadas, ni vendadas,
    ni aliviadas con aceite.

Su país está desolado,
    sus ciudades son presa del fuego;
ante sus propios ojos
    los extraños devoran sus campos;
    su país está desolado, como si hubiera sido destruido por extranjeros.
La hija Sión ha quedado
    como cobertizo en un viñedo,
como choza en un huerto de pepinos,
    como ciudad sitiada.
Si el Señor de los Ejércitos
    no nos hubiera dejado un remanente de sobrevivientes,
seríamos ya como Sodoma,
    nos pareceríamos a Gomorra.

10 ¡Oigan la palabra del Señor,
    gobernantes de Sodoma!
¡Escuchen la instrucción de nuestro Dios,
    pueblo de Gomorra!
11 «¿De qué me sirven sus muchos sacrificios?»,
    dice el Señor.
«Harto estoy de holocaustos de carneros
    y de la grasa de animales engordados;
la sangre de novillos, corderos y machos cabríos
    no me complace.
12 ¿Por qué vienen a presentarse ante mí?
    ¿Quién les mandó traer animales
    para que pisotearan mis atrios?
13 No me sigan trayendo vanas ofrendas;
    el incienso es para mí una abominación.
Luna nueva, día de reposo, asambleas convocadas;
    ¡no soporto sus asambleas que me ofenden!
14 Yo aborrezco sus lunas nuevas y festividades;
    se me han vuelto una carga
    que estoy cansado de soportar.
15 Cuando levantan sus manos,
    yo aparto de ustedes mis ojos;
aunque multipliquen sus oraciones,
    no las escucharé.

»¡Tienen las manos llenas de sangre!

16 »¡Lávense, límpiense!
    ¡Aparten de mi vista sus obras malvadas!
    ¡Dejen de hacer el mal!
17 ¡Aprendan a hacer el bien!
    ¡Busquen la justicia y restituyan al oprimido!
¡Aboguen por el huérfano
    y defiendan a la viuda!».

18 «Vengan, pongamos las cosas en claro»,
    dice el Señor.
«Aunque sus pecados sean como escarlata,
    quedarán blancos como la nieve.
Aunque sean rojos como la púrpura,
    quedarán como la lana.
19 ¿Están ustedes dispuestos a obedecer?
    ¡Comerán lo bueno de la tierra!
20 ¿Se niegan y se rebelan?
    ¡Serán devorados por la espada!».
    El Señor mismo lo ha dicho.

21 ¡Cómo se ha prostituido la ciudad fiel!
    Antes estaba llena de justicia.
La rectitud moraba en ella,
    pero ahora solo quedan asesinos.
22 Tu plata se ha convertido en escoria;
    tu buen vino está mezclado con agua.
23 Tus gobernantes son rebeldes,
    cómplices de ladrones;
todos aman el soborno
    y van detrás de las recompensas.
No abogan por el huérfano
    ni se ocupan de la causa de la viuda.

24 Por eso, afirma el Señor,
    el Señor de los Ejércitos, el Poderoso de Israel:
«Me desquitaré de mis adversarios,
    me vengaré de mis enemigos.
25 Volveré mi mano contra ti,
    limpiaré tus escorias con lejía
    y quitaré todas tus impurezas.
26 Restauraré a tus líderes como al principio
    y a tus consejeros como al comienzo.
Entonces serás llamada
    “Ciudad de justicia”,
    “Ciudad fiel”».

27 Con justicia Sión será redimida
    y con rectitud, los que se arrepientan.
28 Pero los rebeldes y pecadores a una serán quebrantados
    y perecerán los que abandonan al Señor.

29 «Se avergonzarán de las encinas
    que ustedes tanto aman;
los jardines que eligieron
    les serán una afrenta,
30 como una encina con hojas marchitas,
    como un jardín sin agua.
31 El hombre fuerte se convertirá en estopa
    y su trabajo, en chispa;
arderán los dos juntos
    y no habrá quien los apague».

Superscription

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Rebellious Judah

Hear, heavens,
    and listen, earth,
        for Yahweh has spoken:
“I reared children
    and I brought them up,
        but they rebelled against me.
An ox knows its owner
    and a donkey the manger of its master.
Israel does not know;
    my people do not understand.
Ah, sinful nation,
    a people heavy with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
    children who deal corruptly.
They have forsaken Yahweh;
    they have despised the holy one of Israel.
        They are estranged and gone backward.
Why do you want to be beaten again?
    You continue in rebellion.
The whole of the head is sick,
    and the whole of the heart is faint.
From the sole of the foot and up to the head
    there is no health in it;
bruise and sore and bleeding wound have not been cleansed,
    and they have not been bound up
    and not softened with the oil.
Your country is desolate,
    your cities are burned with fire;
As for your land, aliens are devouring it in your presence,
    and it is desolate, like devastation by foreigners.
And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard,
    like a shelter in a cucumber field,
    like a city that is besieged.[a]
If Yahweh of hosts had not left us survivors,[b]
    we would have been as few as Sodom,
    we would have become like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom!
    Listen to the teaching of our God, people of Gomorrah!
11 What is the abundance of your sacrifices to me? says Yahweh.
    I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
        and the fat of fattened animals
    and I do not delight in the blood of bulls
        and ram-lambs and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked for this from your hand:
    you trampling my courts?
13 You must not continue[c] to bring offerings[d] of futility,
    incense—it is an abomination to me;
new moon and Sabbath, the calling of a convocation—
    I cannot endure iniquity with solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates;
    they have become to me like a burden,
    I am not able to bear them.
15 And when you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,[e]
    I will not be listening.
Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash! Make yourselves clean!
    Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes!
Cease to do evil! 17 Learn to do good!
    Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed!
    Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow!
18 “Come now, and let us argue,” says Yahweh.
    “Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow;
    even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and you are obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land.
20 But if you refuse and you rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.

For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”

Purifying Jerusalem

21 How has a faithful city become like a whore?
    Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become as dross;
    Your wine is diluted with waters.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Every one loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the orphan
    and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.
24 Therefore, the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will be relieved of my enemies,
    and I will avenge myself on my foes.
25 And I will turn my hand against you;
I will purify your dross like lye,
    and I will remove all of your tin.
26 And I will restore your judges, as at the first,
    and your counselors, as at the beginning.
After this you will be called[f] the city of righteousness,
    faithful city.
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice,
    and those of her who repent, by righteousness.
28 But the destruction of rebels and sinners shall be together,
    and those who forsake Yahweh will perish.
29 For you[g] will be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted,
    and you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.
30 For you shall be like an oak withering its leaves,
    and like a garden where there is no water for her.
31 And the strong man shall become like tinder,
    and his work like a spark.
And both of them shall burn together,
    and there is not one to quench them.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:8 Or “preserved”
  2. Isaiah 1:9 Hebrew “survivor”
  3. Isaiah 1:13 Literally “increase” or “add to”
  4. Isaiah 1:13 Hebrew “offering”
  5. Isaiah 1:15 Hebrew “prayer”
  6. Isaiah 1:26 Literally “it will be called for you”
  7. Isaiah 1:29 Literally “they,” but a few manuscripts read “you,” which fits the context better

The vision(A) concerning Judah and Jerusalem(B) that Isaiah son of Amoz saw(C) during the reigns of Uzziah,(D) Jotham,(E) Ahaz(F) and Hezekiah,(G) kings of Judah.

A Rebellious Nation

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!(H)
    For the Lord has spoken:(I)
“I reared children(J) and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled(K) against me.
The ox knows(L) its master,
    the donkey its owner’s manger,(M)
but Israel does not know,(N)
    my people do not understand.(O)

Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,(P)
a brood of evildoers,(Q)
    children given to corruption!(R)
They have forsaken(S) the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One(T) of Israel
    and turned their backs(U) on him.

Why should you be beaten(V) anymore?
    Why do you persist(W) in rebellion?(X)
Your whole head is injured,
    your whole heart(Y) afflicted.(Z)
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head(AA)
    there is no soundness(AB)
only wounds and welts(AC)
    and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged(AD)
    or soothed with olive oil.(AE)

Your country is desolate,(AF)
    your cities burned with fire;(AG)
your fields are being stripped by foreigners(AH)
    right before you,
    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.(AI)
Daughter Zion(AJ) is left(AK)
    like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a hut(AL) in a cucumber field,
    like a city under siege.
Unless the Lord Almighty
    had left us some survivors,(AM)
we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.(AN)

10 Hear the word of the Lord,(AO)
    you rulers of Sodom;(AP)
listen to the instruction(AQ) of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!(AR)
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
    what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;(AS)
I have no pleasure(AT)
    in the blood of bulls(AU) and lambs and goats.(AV)
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,(AW)
    this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!(AX)
    Your incense(AY) is detestable(AZ) to me.
New Moons,(BA) Sabbaths and convocations(BB)
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon(BC) feasts and your appointed festivals(BD)
    I hate with all my being.(BE)
They have become a burden to me;(BF)
    I am weary(BG) of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands(BH) in prayer,
    I hide(BI) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.(BJ)

Your hands(BK) are full of blood!(BL)

16 Wash(BM) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(BN)
    stop doing wrong.(BO)
17 Learn to do right;(BP) seek justice.(BQ)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](BR)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(BS)
    plead the case of the widow.(BT)

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”(BU)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;(BV)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.(BW)
19 If you are willing and obedient,(BX)
    you will eat the good things of the land;(BY)
20 but if you resist and rebel,(BZ)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”(CA)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(CB)

21 See how the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!(CC)
She once was full of justice;
    righteousness(CD) used to dwell in her—
    but now murderers!(CE)
22 Your silver has become dross,(CF)
    your choice wine is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,(CG)
    partners with thieves;(CH)
they all love bribes(CI)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(CJ)

24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One(CK) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge(CL) myself on my enemies.(CM)
25 I will turn my hand against you;[b](CN)
    I will thoroughly purge(CO) away your dross(CP)
    and remove all your impurities.(CQ)
26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,(CR)
    your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called(CS)
    the City of Righteousness,(CT)
    the Faithful City.(CU)

27 Zion will be delivered with justice,
    her penitent(CV) ones with righteousness.(CW)
28 But rebels and sinners(CX) will both be broken,
    and those who forsake(CY) the Lord will perish.(CZ)

29 “You will be ashamed(DA) because of the sacred oaks(DB)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens(DC)
    that you have chosen.
30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves,(DD)
    like a garden without water.
31 The mighty man will become tinder
    and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
    with no one to quench the fire.(DE)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor
  2. Isaiah 1:25 That is, against Jerusalem