The Degenerate City

21 (A)How the faithful city has become a [a]harlot!
It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it,
But now (B)murderers.
22 (C)Your silver has become dross,
Your wine mixed with water.
23 (D)Your princes are rebellious,
And (E)companions of thieves;
(F)Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They (G)do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord says,
The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,
“Ah, (H)I will [b]rid Myself of My adversaries,
And [c]take vengeance on My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you,
And (I)thoroughly[d] purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
26 I will restore your judges (J)as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward (K)you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice,
And her [e]penitents with righteousness.
28 The (L)destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,
And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For [f]they shall be ashamed of the [g]terebinth trees
Which you have desired;
And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens
Which you have chosen.
30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,
And as a garden that has no water.
31 (M)The strong shall be as tinder,
And the work of it as a spark;
Both will burn together,
And no one shall (N)quench them.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:21 Unfaithful
  2. Isaiah 1:24 be relieved of
  3. Isaiah 1:24 avenge Myself
  4. Isaiah 1:25 refine with lye
  5. Isaiah 1:27 Lit. returners
  6. Isaiah 1:29 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; some Heb. mss., Tg. you
  7. Isaiah 1:29 Sites of pagan worship

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

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

27 Zion will be delivered with justice,
    her penitent(T) ones with righteousness.(U)
28 But rebels and sinners(V) will both be broken,
    and those who forsake(W) the Lord will perish.(X)

29 “You will be ashamed(Y) because of the sacred oaks(Z)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens(AA)
    that you have chosen.
30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves,(AB)
    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.(AC)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:25 That is, against Jerusalem