The Unfaithful City

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste

The Degenerate City

21 How the faithful city
    has become a harlot,
    she that was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
    but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
    your wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Every one loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the fatherless,
    and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

24 Therefore the Lord says,
    the Lord of hosts,
    the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will vent my wrath on my enemies,
    and avenge myself on my foes.
25 I will turn my hand against you
    and will smelt away your dross as with lye
    and remove all your alloy.
26 And I will restore your judges as at the first,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
    the faithful city.”

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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)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:25 That is, against Jerusalem