18 “Come now, (A)let us reason[a] together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as (B)white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
19 (C)If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;
20 but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be eaten by the sword;
    (D)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Unfaithful City

21 How the faithful city
    (E)has become a whore,[b]
    (F)she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
    but now murderers.
22 (G)Your silver has become dross,
    your best wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Everyone (H)loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
(I)They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
    and the widow's cause does not come to them.

24 Therefore the (J)Lord declares,
    the Lord of hosts,
    the (K)Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
    (L)and avenge myself on my foes.
25 (M)I will turn my hand against you
    and will smelt away your (N)dross as with lye
    and remove all your alloy.
26 And I will restore your judges (O)as at the first,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward (P)you shall be called the city of righteousness,
    the faithful city.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:18 Or dispute
  2. Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”(A)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;(B)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.(C)
19 If you are willing and obedient,(D)
    you will eat the good things of the land;(E)
20 but if you resist and rebel,(F)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”(G)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(H)

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

24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One(Q) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge(R) myself on my enemies.(S)
25 I will turn my hand against you;[a](T)
    I will thoroughly purge(U) away your dross(V)
    and remove all your impurities.(W)
26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,(X)
    your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called(Y)
    the City of Righteousness,(Z)
    the Faithful City.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:25 That is, against Jerusalem