2. Hear, O heavens; and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah speaks. Sons I
have reared and brought up, and they, even they, have rebelled
against Me. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib: Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.
4. A sinful nation, people heavy with iniquity, a seed of evil doers,
sons corrupting themselves! They have forsaken Jehovah; they have
treated with contempt the Holy One of Israel; they are alienated back
again.
5. Whereupon can ye be stricken any more, (that) ye add revolt? The
whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6. From the sole of
the foot even to the head, there is not in it a sound place; (it is)
wound and bruise and fresh stroke. They have not been pressed, and
they have not been bound, and it has not been mollified with
ointment. 7. Your land . . . a waste! Your towns . . . burnt with
fire! Your ground . . . before you strangers (are) devouring it, and
a waste like the overthrow of strangers. 8. And the daughter of Zion
is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a melon field,
like a watched city. 9. Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a
very small remnant, we should have been like Sodom, we should have
resembled Gomorrah.
10. Here the word of Jehovah, ye judges of Sodom; give ear to the law
of our God, ye people of Gomorrah! 11. For what (end) is the
multitude of your sacrifices to Me? saith Jehovah. I am full of burnt
offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts, and the blood of
bullocks and lambs and he-goats I desire not. 12. When you come to
appear before Me, who hath required this at your hands to tread My
courts? 13. Ye shall not add to bring a vain offering. Incense is an
abomination to Me; (so are) new-moon and Sabbath, the calling of the
convocation: I cannot bear iniquity and holy day. 14. Your new-moons
and your convocations My soul hateth; they have become a burden to
Me, I am weary of bearing (them). 15. And when you spread your hands,
I will hide Mine eyes from you; also when ye multiply prayer, I am
not hearing; your hands are full of blood.
16. Wash you, purify yourselves; remove the evil of your doings from
before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17. learn to do good, seek
judgment, redress wrong, judge the fatherless, befriend the widow.
18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah. Though your
sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red
as crimson, they shall be as wool. 19. If ye consent and hear, the
good of the land ye shall eat; 20. and if ye refuse and rebel, by the
sword shall ye be eaten: the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.
21. How has she become an harlot, the faithful city! full of justice,
righteousness lodged in it, and now murderers. 22. Thy silver is
become dross, thy wine weakened with water. 23. Thy rulers are rebels
and fellows of thieves, every one of them loving a bribe, and
pursuing rewards. The fatherless they judge not, and the cause of the
widow cometh not unto them.
24. Therefore, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of
Israel, Ah, I will comfort Myself of My adversaries, and I will
avenge Myself of Mine enemies; 25. and I will turn My hand upon them,
and will purge out thy dross like purity (itself), and I will take
away all thine alloy. 26. And I will restore thy judges as at first,
and thy counsellors as in the beginning, after which thou shalt be
called City of Righteousness, a faithful State.
27. Zion shall be redeemed in judgment, and her converts in
righteousness; 28. and the breaking of apostates and sinners (shall
be) together, and the forsaken of Jehovah shall cease. 29. For they
shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be
confounded for the gardens ye have chosen; 30. for ye shall be like
an oak fading (in) its leaf, and like a garden which has no water;
31. and the strong shall become tow, and his work a spark, and they
shall burn both of them together, (there) shall be no one quenching
(them).