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21 Look how the faithful city has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice. Righteousness once lived in her,
but now murderers live there.
22 Your silver has become slag.[a]
Your drinks are mixed with water.
23 Your officials are rebellious.
They are partners with thieves.
Everyone loves bribes and chases payoffs.
They do not obtain justice for the fatherless,
and they do not take up the cause of the widow.

24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, says:
    I must certainly get relief from my adversaries.
    I will avenge myself on my enemies.
25     I will turn my hand against you.
    I will smelt away all your slag.
    I will take away all your impurities.
26     I will restore your judges as they were at first,
    and your advisors as they were in the beginning.
Afterward you will be called a righteous city, a faithful town.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:22 Or dross. Slag and dross are waste materials that are left after refining metal.

Purifying Jerusalem

21 How has a faithful city become like a whore?
    Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become as dross;
    Your wine is diluted with waters.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Every one loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the orphan
    and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.
24 Therefore, the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will be relieved of my enemies,
    and I will avenge myself on my foes.
25 And I will turn my hand against you;
I will purify your dross like lye,
    and I will remove all of your tin.
26 And I will restore your judges, as at the first,
    and your counselors, as at the beginning.
After this you will be called[a] the city of righteousness,
    faithful city.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:26 Literally “it will be called for you”