Isaiah 1:12-25

New International Version

¹²When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,^(A)
    this trampling of my courts?
¹³Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^(B)
    Your incense^(C) is detestable^(D) to me.
New Moons,^(E) Sabbaths and convocations^(F)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴Your New Moon^(G) feasts and your appointed festivals^(H)
    I hate with all my being.^(I)
They have become a burden to me;^(J)
    I am weary^(K) of bearing them.
¹⁵When you spread out your hands^(L) in prayer,
    I hide^(M) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.^(N)

Your hands^(O) are full of blood!^(P)

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

¹⁸“Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(Y)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(Z)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(AA)
¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,^(AB)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(AC)
²⁰but if you resist and rebel,^(AD)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(AE)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(AF)

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

²⁴Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One^(AO) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge^(AP) myself on my enemies.^(AQ)
²⁵I will turn my hand against you;^[b]^(AR)
    I will thoroughly purge^(AS) away your dross^(AT)
    and remove all your impurities.^(AU)