Isaiah 1:17-26

English Standard Version

¹⁷    learn to do good;
^(A)seek justice,
    correct oppression;
^(B)bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

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

The Unfaithful City

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

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