Isaiah 1:16-31

Purification of Jerusalem

16 "Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil.
17 Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor.[a] Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause.
18 "Come, let us discuss this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
21 The faithful city- what an adulteress she has become! She was once full of justice. Righteousness once dwelt in her- but now, murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross,[b] your beer[c] is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow's case never comes before them."
24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: "Ah, I will gain satisfaction against My foes; I will take revenge against My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you and will burn away your dross[d] completely;[e] I will remove all your impurities.
26 I will restore your judges to what they once were,[f] and your advisers to their former state.[g] Afterwards you will be called the Righteous City, a Faithful City."
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, her repentant ones by righteousness.
28 But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed, and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
29 Indeed, they[h] will be ashamed of the sacred trees you desired, and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens you have chosen.
30 For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, and like a garden without water.
31 The strong one will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench [the flames].

Images for Isaiah 1:16-31

Footnotes 8

  • [a]. Or Aid the oppressed
  • [b]. Or burnished lead; lead oxide
  • [c]. Or wine
  • [d]. Or burnished lead; lead oxide
  • [e]. Lit dross as with lye
  • [f]. Lit judges as at the first
  • [g]. Lit advisers as at the beginning
  • [h]. Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, Tg read you
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.