10 Hear the word of the Lord,(A)
    you rulers of Sodom;(B)
listen to the instruction(C) of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!(D)
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
    what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;(E)
I have no pleasure(F)
    in the blood of bulls(G) and lambs and goats.(H)
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,(I)
    this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!(J)
    Your incense(K) is detestable(L) to me.
New Moons,(M) Sabbaths and convocations(N)
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon(O) feasts and your appointed festivals(P)
    I hate with all my being.(Q)
They have become a burden to me;(R)
    I am weary(S) of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands(T) in prayer,
    I hide(U) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.(V)

Your hands(W) are full of blood!(X)

16 Wash(Y) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(Z)
    stop doing wrong.(AA)
17 Learn to do right;(AB) seek justice.(AC)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](AD)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(AE)
    plead the case of the widow.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor

Hands filled with bloodshed

10 Hear the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom.
    Listen to our God’s teaching,
        people of Gomorrah!
11 What should I think about all your sacrifices?
    says the Lord.
I’m fed up with entirely burned offerings of rams
    and the fat of well-fed beasts.
    I don’t want the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from you,
    this trampling of my temple’s courts?
13 Stop bringing worthless offerings.
    Your incense repulses me.
New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly—
    I can’t stand wickedness with celebration!
14 I hate your new moons and your festivals.
    They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing.
15 When you extend your hands,
    I’ll hide my eyes from you.
Even when you pray for a long time,
    I won’t listen.
Your hands are stained with blood.
16     Wash! Be clean!
Remove your ugly deeds from my sight.
    Put an end to such evil;
17     learn to do good.
Seek justice:
    help the oppressed;[a]
    defend the orphan;
    plead for the widow.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 LXX, Vulg; MT lead the oppressor