Chapter 1

  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  

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  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.  

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  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.  

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  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged [and gone] backward.  

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  Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.  

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  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.  

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  Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.  

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  And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.  

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  Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.  

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  Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.  

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  What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.  

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  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts?  

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  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting.  

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  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them.  

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  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.  

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  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  

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  learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  

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  Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  

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  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  

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  but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.  

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  How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.  

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  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.  

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  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.  

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  Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies;  

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  and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin;  

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  and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town.  

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  Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.  

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  But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.  

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  For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.  

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  For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.  

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  And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.  

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