1 1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, heavens, and listen, earth, for our Heavenly Father has spoken: "Children I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
A People Who Forgot Their Father
3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people weighed down with guilt, offspring of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken our Father, they have spurned the Holy One of Israel — our Father — they have turned their backs and walked away. a a v4 The Holy One of Israel is the prophet Isaiah's signature title for our Father. It will appear more than twenty times across his book — naming the Father as the holy one who has bound himself in covenant to a people who often forget him. 5 Why will you be beaten any longer? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. 6 From the sole of the foot to the top of the head there is no healthy spot — only wounds, welts, and open sores, not cleaned or bandaged or soothed with oil. 7 Your land is desolate, your cities burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your fields — a desolation, overthrown by strangers. 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. b b v8 Harvest watchmen built temporary shelters in fields; after harvest they stood empty — a picture of lonely abandonment. 9 If the Father of heaven's armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of our Father, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our Father, you people of Gomorrah!
11 "What are your endless sacrifices to me?" says our Father. "I have had my fill of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who asked this of you — this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New moons, Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies — I cannot stand wickedness mixed with your solemn gatherings. c c v13 The New Moon was a monthly festival marking each month’s beginning with sacrifices and rest. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me — I am weary of carrying them. 15 When you stretch out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do good; seek justice, set the oppressor right. Defend the orphan, stand up for the widow. 18 "Come now, let us settle this together, " says our Father. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will become 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 our Father has spoken.
The Faithful City
21 How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become worthless slag, your choice wine diluted with water. 23 Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love a bribe and chase after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow gets no hearing from them.
24 Therefore this is the declaration of the Sovereign Father, the Father of heaven's armies, the Mighty One of Israel — our Father: "Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries and bring justice against my foes. d d v24 The Mighty One of Israel is another of Isaiah's compound names for our Father — naming his strength on behalf of his people. Stacked here with two other titles, this verse names our Father in his fullness as he rises to act. 25 I will turn my hand against you; I will smelt away your slag as with lye and remove all your impurities. 26 I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who forsake our Father will be consumed. 29 You will be ashamed of the sacred oaks you delighted in; you will blush over the gardens you have chosen. 30 For you will be like an oak whose leaves wither, like a garden without water. 31 The strong man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to put them out.