ישעיהו א

The prophecies of Isaiah son of Amoz, who prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,
For GOD has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up—
And they have rebelled against Me!

An ox knows its owner,
A donkey its master’s crib:
Israel does not know,
My people takes no thought.”

Ah, sinful nation!
People laden with iniquity!
Brood of evildoers!
Depraved children!
They have forsaken GOD,
Spurned the Holy One of Israel,
Turned their backs.

Why do you seek further beatings,
That you continue to offend?
Every head is ailing,
And every heart is sick.

From head to foot
No spot is sound:
All bruises, and welts,
And festering sores—
Not pressed out, not bound up,
Not softened with oil.

Your land is a waste,
Your cities burnt down;
Before your eyes, the yield of your soil
Is consumed by strangers—
A wasteland as overthrown by strangers!

Fair Zion is left
Like a booth in a vineyard,
Like a hut in a cucumber field,
Like a city beleaguered.

Had not GOD of Hosts
Left us some survivors,
We should be like Sodom,
Another Gomorrah.

Hear the word of GOD,
You chieftains of Sodom;
Give ear to our God’s instruction,
You folk of Gomorrah!

“What need have I of all your sacrifices?”
Says GOD.
“I am sated with burnt offerings of rams,
And suet of fatlings,
And blood of bulls;
And I have no delight
In lambs and he-goats.

That you come to appear before Me—
Who asked that of you?
Trample My courts

no more;
Bringing oblations is futile,
Incense is offensive to Me.
New moon and sabbath,
Proclaiming of solemnities,
Assemblies with iniquity
I cannot abide.

Your new moons and fixed seasons
Fill Me with loathing;
They are become a burden to Me,
I cannot endure them.

And when you lift up your hands,
I will turn My eyes away from you;
Though you pray at length,
I will not listen.
Your hands are stained with crime—

Wash yourselves clean;
Put your evil doings
Away from My sight.
Cease to do evil;

Learn to do good.
Devote yourselves to justice;
Aid the wronged.
Uphold the rights of the orphan;
Defend the cause of the widow.

“Come, let us reach an understanding,
—says GOD.
Be your sins like crimson,
They can turn snow-white;
Be they red as dyed wool,
They can become like fleece.”

If, then, you agree and give heed,
You will eat the good things of the earth;

But if you refuse and disobey,
You will be devoured [by] the sword.—
For it was GOD who spoke.

Alas, she has become a whore,
The faithful city
That was filled with justice,
Where righteousness dwelt—
But now murderers.

Your silver has turned to dross;
Your wine is cut with water.

Your rulers are rogues
And cronies of thieves,
Every one avid for presents
And greedy for gifts;
They do not judge the case of the orphan,
And the widow’s cause never reaches them.

Assuredly, this is the declaration
Of the Sovereign, GOD of Hosts,
The Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get satisfaction from My foes;
I will wreak vengeance on My enemies!

I will turn My hand against you,
And smelt out your dross as with lye,
And remove all your slag:

I will restore your magistrates as of old,
And your counselors as of yore.
After that you shall be called
City of Righteousness, Faithful City.”

Zion shall be saved in the judgment;
Her repentant ones, in the retribution.

But rebels and sinners shall all be crushed,
And those who forsake GOD shall perish.

Truly, you shall be shamed
Because of the terebinths you desired,
And you shall be confounded
Because of the gardens you coveted.

For you shall be like a terebinth
Wilted of leaf,
And like a garden
That has no water,

Stored wealth with ḥasan “to store” (23.18), and ḥosen “treasure” (33.6). shall become as tow,
And he who amassed it a spark;
And the two shall burn together,
With none to quench.