Isaiah 1:21-26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Degenerate City
21 How the faithful city
has become a prostitute!
She that was full of justice,
righteousness lodged in her—
but now murderers!(A)
22 Your silver has become dross;
your wine is mixed with water.(B)
23 Your princes are rebels
and companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe
and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the orphan,
and the widow’s cause does not come before them.(C)
24 Therefore says the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:
Surely I will pour out my wrath on my enemies
and avenge myself on my foes!(D)
25 I will turn my hand against you;
I will smelt away your dross as with lye
and remove all your alloy.(E)
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.(F)
Isaiah 1:21-26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
21 The faithful city—
what an adulteress[a] she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her—
but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross,[b]
your beer[c] is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.(A)
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.(B)
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.(C)
24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;
I will take revenge against My enemies.(D)
25 I will turn My hand against you(E)
and will burn away your dross[d] completely;[e]
I will remove all your impurities.(F)
26 I will restore your judges(G) to what they once were,[f]
and your advisers to their former state.[g]
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,(H)
a Faithful City.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 1:21 Or prostitute
- Isaiah 1:22 Or burnished lead
- Isaiah 1:22 Or wine
- Isaiah 1:25 Or burnished lead
- Isaiah 1:25 Lit dross as with lye
- Isaiah 1:26 Lit judges as at the first
- Isaiah 1:26 Lit advisers as at the beginning
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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