Isaiah 1:15-31

New International Version

¹⁵When you spread out your hands^(A) in prayer,
I hide^(B) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.^(C)

Your hands^(D) are full of blood!^(E)

¹⁶Wash^(F) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;^(G)
    stop doing wrong.^(H)
¹⁷Learn to do right;^(I) seek justice.^(J)
    Defend the oppressed.^[a]^(K)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;^(L)
    plead the case of the widow.^(M)

¹⁸“Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(N)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(O)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(P)
¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,^(Q)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(R)
²⁰but if you resist and rebel,^(S)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(T)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(U)

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

²⁴Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One^(AD) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge^(AE) myself on my enemies.^(AF)
²⁵I will turn my hand against you;^[b]^(AG)
    I will thoroughly purge^(AH) away your dross^(AI)
    and remove all your impurities.^(AJ)
²⁶I will restore your leaders as in days of old,^(AK)
    your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called^(AL)
    the City of Righteousness,^(AM)
    the Faithful City.^(AN)”

²⁷Zion will be delivered with justice,
her penitent^(AO) ones with righteousness.^(AP)
²⁸But rebels and sinners^(AQ) will both be broken,
and those who forsake^(AR) the Lord will perish.^(AS)

²⁹“You will be ashamed^(AT) because of the sacred oaks^(AU)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens^(AV)
    that you have chosen.
³⁰You will be like an oak with fading leaves,^(AW)
    like a garden without water.
³¹The mighty man will become tinder
    and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
    with no one to quench the fire.^(AX)”