The Unfaithful City

21 How the faithful city
    (A)has become a whore,[a]
    (B)she who was full of justice!
Righteousness lodged in her,
    but now murderers.
22 (C)Your silver has become dross,
    your best wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebels
    and companions of thieves.
Everyone (D)loves a bribe
    and runs after gifts.
(E)They do not bring justice to the fatherless,
    and the widow's cause does not come to them.

24 Therefore the (F)Lord declares,
    the Lord of hosts,
    the (G)Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
    (H)and avenge myself on my foes.
25 (I)I will turn my hand against you
    and will smelt away your (J)dross as with lye
    and remove all your alloy.
26 And I will restore your judges (K)as at the first,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward (L)you shall be called the city of righteousness,
    the faithful city.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:21 Or become unchaste

Zion will be redeemed

21 This faithful town has become a prostitute!
She was full of justice;
    righteousness lived in her—
    but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become impure;
    your beer is diluted with water.
23 Your princes are rebels,
    companions of thieves.
Everyone loves a bribe and pursues gifts.
    They don’t defend the orphan,
    and the widow’s cause never reaches them.
24 Therefore, says the Lord God of heavenly forces,
    the mighty one of Israel:
Doom! I will vent my anger against my foes;
    I will take it out on my enemies,
25     and I will turn my hand against you.
I will refine your impurities as with lye,
    and remove all your cinders.
26 Then I will restore your judges as in earlier times,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
After this you will be called Righteous City, Faithful Town.

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