Isaiah 1

Rebellion and Redemption in the City

1 This is the vision that Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem back in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, all kings who ran Judah.

2 Listen up, heavens! Pay attention, earth! The Lord speaking: “I raised up these kids, gave them everything they needed, but they turned their backs on Me.”

3 Even an ox knows who feeds him, and a donkey knows who owns him, but My people, They do not know Me. They do not even recognize who has got their back.

4 Man, this nation’s wilding, full of sin, guilt stacked high. They turned their backs on the Holy One of Israel and walked clean away from Him.

5 Why keep getting beat down, Why keep taking hits for the same mess, Your whole head messed up, your heart jacked up too.

6 From head to toe, you all busted up, bruises, cuts, open sores. Nobody is patching it up, no healing, no care, just pain everywhere.

7 Your land tore up, your cities on fire, your fields robbed right in front of you, strangers eating what is yours like they own it.

8 Jerusalem’s sitting there like a lonely shack in a vineyard, like a hut after harvest, like a city under siege.

9 If the Lord of Armies had not left a few survivors, we would be wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Empty Religion, Real Rebellion

10 Listen, leaders of Sodom, listen to what God’s saying; people of Gomorrah, hear His law.

11 God says, “I am tired of your burnt offerings. You bring bulls, rams, goats, but I am not impressed. I do not need your fancy sacrifices.”

12 “When you all come in My house, who told you to trample My floors, You just showing up to be seen.”

13 “Stop bringing fake gifts, they mean nothing to Me. Your incense, your Sabbath days, your church meetings, I cannot stand them. They fake and foul.”

14 “I hate your festivals, your so-called worship parties. My soul tired of them, I am done. I cannot even look your way.”

15 “When you pray, I am not listening. Your hands covered in blood, you all got dirty hearts.”

16 “Wash up. Clean your act up. Stop doing wrong in front of Me.”

17 “Learn how to do right. Fight for justice. Stand up for the fatherless. Be there for widows who got nobody.”

Reasoning with God

18 “Come here, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Even if your sins are blood-red, I will wash them white as snow. If they dark like crimson, I will make them clean like wool.”

19 “If you are willing to listen and obey, you will eat good from the land.”

20 “But if you hard-headed and rebel, you will die by the sword. I said what I said,” declares the Lord.

Corruption and Redemption of the City

21 How the faithful city turned into a street full of sellouts, she used to be full of justice, but now it is murderers running the block.

22 Your silver got watered down, your wine cut with cheap stuff, no purity, no strength left.

23 Your leaders crooked, hanging with thieves. Everybody chasing bribes and payoffs, nobody defending orphans, nobody caring for widows.

24 So the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I am fed up! I am coming for My enemies, you included.”

25 “I am going to clean you all up, burn off the dirt like metal in fire till the real shine comes through.”

26 “I will bring back real judges and counselors like before. Then you will be called a city of righteousness again, a loyal place.”

27 Zion will be saved by justice, and those who turn back to God will find righteousness.

28 But rebels and sinners, They will be crushed together, and the ones walking away from the Lord will be done for.

29 You will be ashamed of those idol trees you chased after, embarrassed about those gardens where you did your dirt.

30 You will be like a tree with dried-up leaves or a garden with no water.

31 The strong ones will burn like dry straw, their own evil will be the spark that lights them up. No one’s putting that fire out.