19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;
(A)For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The Degenerate City

21 (B)How the faithful city has become a [a]harlot!
It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it,
But now (C)murderers.
22 (D)Your silver has become dross,
Your wine mixed with water.
23 (E)Your princes are rebellious,
And (F)companions of thieves;
(G)Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They (H)do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord says,
The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,
“Ah, (I)I will [b]rid Myself of My adversaries,
And [c]take vengeance on My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you,
And (J)thoroughly[d] purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.
26 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.”

27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice,
And her [e]penitents with righteousness.
28 The (M)destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,
And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For [f]they shall be ashamed of the [g]terebinth trees
Which you have desired;
And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens
Which you have chosen.
30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,
And as a garden that has no water.
31 (N)The strong shall be as tinder,
And the work of it as a spark;
Both will burn together,
And no one shall (O)quench them.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:21 Unfaithful
  2. Isaiah 1:24 be relieved of
  3. Isaiah 1:24 avenge Myself
  4. Isaiah 1:25 refine with lye
  5. Isaiah 1:27 Lit. returners
  6. Isaiah 1:29 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; some Heb. mss., Tg. you
  7. Isaiah 1:29 Sites of pagan worship

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