Isaiah 1:18-31
New American Standard Bible 1995
“Let Us Reason”
18 “Come now, and (A)let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“(B)Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
19 “(C)If you consent and obey,
You will (D)eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be (E)devoured by the sword.”
Truly, (F)the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Zion Corrupted, to Be Redeemed
21 How the faithful city has become a (G)harlot,
She who was full of justice!
Righteousness once lodged in her,
But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
Your drink diluted with water.
23 Your (H)rulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone (I)loves a bribe
And chases after rewards.
They (J)do not [a]defend the [b]orphan,
Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
24 Therefore the Lord [c]God of hosts,
The (K)Mighty One of Israel, declares,
“Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries
And (L)avenge Myself on My foes.
25 “I will also turn My hand against you,
And will (M)smelt away your dross as with lye
And will remove all your alloy.
26 “Then I will restore your (N)judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning;
After that you will be called the (O)city of righteousness,
A faithful city.”
27 Zion will be (P)redeemed with justice
And her [d]repentant ones with righteousness.
28 But [e]transgressors and sinners will be (Q)crushed together,
And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.
29 Surely [f]you will be ashamed of the [g](R)oaks which you have desired,
And you will be embarrassed at the (S)gardens which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an [h]oak whose (T)leaf fades away
Or as a garden that has no water.
31 The strong man will become tinder,
His work also a spark.
Thus they shall both (U)burn together
And there will be (V)none to quench them.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 1:23 Or vindicate
- Isaiah 1:23 Or fatherless
- Isaiah 1:24 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Isaiah 1:27 Or returnees
- Isaiah 1:28 Lit crushing of transgressors and sinners shall be together
- Isaiah 1:29 So with some mss; M.T. they
- Isaiah 1:29 Or terebinths
- Isaiah 1:30 Or terebinth
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
