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.
God Will Judge and God Will Save Judah
Listen, y’all heavens, Pay attention, you earth! For YHWH has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.” Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring+1:4 or, seed of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken YHWH. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward. Why should y’all be beaten anymore, Why do y’all continue rebelling? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot to the head there is no soundness, only wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. Y’all’s country is desolate. Y’all’s cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour y’all’s land in y’all’s presence and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city. Unless YHWH Almighty had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.Y’all must listen to the word of YHWH, rulers of Sodom! Y’all must pay attention to the law of our God, people of Gomorrah! “What are y’all’s abundant sacrifices to me?”, says YHWH. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. When y’all come to appear before me, who has requested this from y’all’s hand, to trample my courts? Y’all must stop bringing vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, the calling of convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies. My soul hates y’all’s New Moons and y’all’s appointed feasts. They have become a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. When y’all spread out y’all’s palms, I will hide my eyes from y’all. When y’all increase y’all’s prayers, I will hear nothing. Y’all’s hands are full of blood. Y’all must wash and clean yourselves*. Y’all must remove the of y’all’s evil deeds from before my eyes. Y’all must stop to do evil. Y’all must learn to do what is good. Y’all must meek justice, and relieve the oppressed. Y’all must defend the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow.”
“Come y’all, and let’s settle this,” says YHWH: “Though y’all’s sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If y’all are willing and obedient, y’all will eat the good things of the land. But if y’all refuse and rebel, y’all will be devoured with the sword. For the mouth of YHWH has spoken.”
Jerusalem’s Adultery
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness resided in her, but now there are murderers. Your silver has become dross, your wine diluted with water. Your rulers are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.Therefore the Lord, YHWH Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “Ah, I will console myself from my adversaries by avenging myself on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you, I will thoroughly purge your dross, and I will remove all your tin.+1:25 tin is a metal that is separated from silver during the refining and purification process. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’ Zion will be redeemed with justice, and her repentant ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake YHWH will come to an end. For they will be ashamed of the sacred oaks which y’all desired, and y’all will be embarrassed by the gardens that y’all have chosen. For y’all will be like an oak whose leaves wither, like a garden that has no water. The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”