Isaiah 1:21-26

Expanded Bible

²¹ [^LSee how; or How…!] The ·city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord [^Lfaithful city],
    ·but she is no longer loyal to him [^L…has become a prostitute/whore; ^Ca metaphor for spiritual treachery].
She used to be filled with ·fairness [justice];
    ·people there lived the way God wanted [Righteousness/Justice lived/lodged there; ^Cpersonification].
    But now, murderers live there.
²² ·Jerusalem, you have become like the scum left when silver is purified [^LYour silver has become dross/scum];
    you are like ·wine [beer; alcohol; ^Ldrink] ·mixed [diluted; weakened] with water.
²³ Your ·rulers [princes] are rebels
    and ·friends [companions; associates] of thieves.
They all ·accept money for doing wrong [^Llove bribes],
    and they ·are paid to cheat people [pursue rewards/gifts].
They don’t ·seek justice for [defend the cause of] the ·orphans [fatherless]
    or ·listen to the widows’ needs [or defend the widows’ rights; ^Lthe widows’ disputes do not come before them].
²⁴ So the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts],
    the Mighty One of Israel, says:
“[^LWoe; Alas; Aha,] I will ·take revenge on [vent my wrath against; or get relief from; console myself by destroying] my ·foes [enemies; adversaries].
    I will pay back my ·enemies [foes].
²⁵ I will turn [^Lmy hand] against you
    and ·clean away all your wrongs as if with soap [or purify you as metal is refined; ^Lpurge your dross as with lye/potash/soap];
    I will ·take all the worthless things out of you [^Lremove all your impurities/slag].
²⁶ I will ·bring back [restore] judges as you had ·long ago [formerly; at the first];
    your ·counselors [advisors] will be like those you had in the beginning.
Then you will be called the City ·That Is Right with God [of Righteousness/Justice],
    the ·Loyal [Faithful; Trustworthy] City.”