Isaiah 1:4-20

Common English Bible

⁴Doom! Sinful nation, people weighed down with crimes,
    evildoing offspring, corrupt children!
They have abandoned the Lord,
    despised the holy one of Israel;
    they turned their backs on God.

⁵Why do you invite further beatings?
    Why continue to rebel?
Everyone’s head throbs,
    and everyone’s heart fails.
⁶From head to toe, none are well—
    only bruises, cuts, and raw wounds,
        not treated, not bandaged,
        not soothed with oil.

⁷Your country is deserted,
    your cities burned with fire;
    your land—strangers are devouring it in plain sight.
    It’s a wasteland, as when foreigners raid.
⁸Daughter Zion is left like a small shelter in a vineyard,
    like a hut in a cucumber field,
    like a city besieged.^[a]
⁹If the Lord of heavenly forces had not spared a few of us,
    we would be like Sodom; we would resemble Gomorrah.

Hands filled with bloodshed

¹⁰Hear the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom.
    Listen to our God’s teaching,
        people of Gomorrah!
¹¹What 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.
¹²When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from you,
    this trampling of my temple’s courts?
¹³Stop bringing worthless offerings.
    Your incense repulses me.
New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly—
    I can’t stand wickedness with celebration!
¹⁴I hate your new moons and your festivals.
    They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing.
¹⁵When 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;^[b]
    defend the orphan;
    plead for the widow.

¹⁸Come now, and let’s settle this,
    says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they will be white as snow.
If they are red as crimson,
    they will become like wool.
¹⁹If you agree and obey,
    you will eat the best food of the land.
²⁰But if you refuse and rebel,
    you will be devoured by the sword.
The Lord has said this.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 1:8 LXX, Vulg; MT spared
Isaiah 1:17 LXX, Vulg; MT lead the oppressor

Isaiah 9:2-7

Common English Bible

²^[a] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
    On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned.
³You have made the nation great;
    you have increased its joy.
They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest,
    as those who divide plunder rejoice.
⁴As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them,
    the staff on their shoulders,
    and the rod of their oppressor.
⁵Because every boot of the thundering warriors,
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned, fuel for the fire.
⁶A child is born to us, a son is given to us,
    and authority will be on his shoulders.
    He will be named
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷There will be vast authority and endless peace
    for David’s throne and for his kingdom,
    establishing and sustaining it
    with justice and righteousness
    now and forever.