Isaiah 1:20-30

20 But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the Lord, have spoken."
21 The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain.
22 Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water.
23 Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.
24 So now, listen to what the Lord Almighty, Israel's powerful God, is saying: "I will take revenge on you, my enemies, and you will cause me no more trouble.
25 I will take action against you. I will purify you the way metal is refined, and will remove all your impurity.
26 I will give you rulers and advisers like those you had long ago. Then Jerusalem will be called the righteous, faithful city."
27 Because the Lord is righteous, he will save Jerusalem and everyone there who repents.
28 But he will crush everyone who sins and rebels against him; he will kill everyone who forsakes him.
29 You will be sorry that you ever worshiped trees and planted sacred gardens. [a]
30 You will wither like a dying oak, like a garden that no one waters.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. sacred gardens: [People believed that dedicating a garden to a fertility god would cause him to bless their crops.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.