21 The faithful town—
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 to be discarded,
your beer[b] 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 Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get even with 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 completely;[c]
I will remove all your impurities.(F)
26 I will restore your judges(G) to what they were at first,
and your advisers to what they were at the start.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,(H)
a Faithful Town.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:21 Or prostitute
  2. 1:22 Or wine
  3. 1:25 Lit dross as with lye

21 See how the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!(A)
She once was full of justice;
    righteousness(B) used to dwell in her—
    but now murderers!(C)
22 Your silver has become dross,(D)
    your choice wine is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels,(E)
    partners with thieves;(F)
they all love bribes(G)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(H)

24 Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One(I) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge(J) myself on my enemies.(K)
25 I will turn my hand against you;[a](L)
    I will thoroughly purge(M) away your dross(N)
    and remove all your impurities.(O)
26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,(P)
    your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called(Q)
    the City of Righteousness,(R)
    the Faithful City.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:25 That is, against Jerusalem