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, heavens, And listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against me.  

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  The ox knows his owner, And the donkey his master's crib; But Israel doesn't know, My people don't consider.  

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  Ah sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A seed of evil-doers, Children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward.  

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  Why should you be beaten more, That you 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 to the head there is no soundness in it: Wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven't been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil.  

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  Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence, And it is desolate, As overthrown by strangers.  

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  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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  Unless Yahweh of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, We would have been as Sodom; We would have been like Gomorrah.  

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  Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom. Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah.  

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  What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?, says Yahweh. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs, Or of male goats.  

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  When you come to appear before me, Who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?  

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  Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.  

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  My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they are a trouble to me; I am weary of bearing them.  

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  When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; yes, when you 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 my 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, says Yahweh: 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 you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land:  

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  but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.  

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

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  Your silver is become dross, your wine mixed with water.  

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  Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards: they don't judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.  

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  Therefore says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of my adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies;  

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  and I will turn my hand on you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin;  

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  and I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall 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 those who forsake Yahweh shall be consumed.  

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

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  For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.  

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  The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.  

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