1 The vision {khazon: prophetic revelation} of Isaiah {Yeshayahu: Yahweh is Salvation}, the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD {YHWH, Ultimate Witness} has spoken: “Children I have reared {giddalti: caused to grow} and brought up, but they have rebelled against Me.”
3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; my {YHWH, Sovereign Ruler} people do not understand {hitbonan: consider deeply}.
4 Ah! Sinful nation, a people weighed down by iniquity {avon: moral guilt}, offspring of evildoers, children who are destroyers. They have forsaken the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}, they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned backward.
5 Why should you still be struck? You continue to rebel; the whole head {rosh: source of thought} is sick, and the whole heart {levav: inner being} is faint.
6 From the sole of the foot to the head there is no soundness {metom: complete health}; wounds, bruises, and fresh wounds {teriyyah: newly inflicted}—not pressed out, nor bound up, nor softened with oil.
7 Your land is desolate {shemamah: utter ruin}, your cities have been burned by fire; before you your soil is devoured by strangers {zarim: outsiders to covenant}, and it remains desolate like an overthrow of strangers.
8 And the daughter of Zion {Tsiyon: symbolic heart of the city} is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city {netsurah: under siege and isolated}.
9 If the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Divine Preserver} had not left us a remnant {sarid: survivor} as small as this, we would have been like Sodom and like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of the LORD {YHWH, Authoritative Sovereign}, rulers {ketsinei: Local Magistrates} of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, people of Gomorrah.
11 Why is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? says the LORD {YHWH, Ritual Judge}. I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals. I take no delight {chafatzti: take pleasure} in the blood of bulls, sheep, and goats.
12 When you come to appear before Me {YHWH, Divine Judge}, who has required this from your hand—to trample My courts {chatzerai: sacred courts}?
13 Do not continue to bring an offering {minchah: tribute gift} of vanity; incense is an abomination to Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge}. New moon and sabbath, the calling of an assembly—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts{moadeikhem: covenant gatherings} My soul has hated; they have become a burden{latorach: oppressive toil} upon me, and I have grown weary to bear them.
15 And when you spread out your hands, I {YHWH, Supreme Judge} will hide My eyes from you. Even when you multiply prayer, I am not listening; your hands are full of blood {damim: guilt from violence}.
16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds {ma‘alleykhem: intentional practices} from before My {YHWH, Holy Judge} eyes; cease to do evil.
17 Learn to do good; seek justice, set right the oppressed {chamotz: bowed-down one}; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow {almanah: woman without husband}.
18 Come now, and let us reason together {nivvakhah: mutual dialogue}, says the LORD {YHWH, Merciful Judge}. If your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; if they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obey {shemaʼtem: covenant compliance}, you will eat the goodness of the land {aretz: promised territory}.
20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword {cherev: Instrument of Judgment}; for the mouth of the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge} has spoken.
21 How the faithful city has become a harlot {lezonah: immoral partner}! She was full of justice {mishpat: legal fairness}; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross {sigim: worthless metal}, and your wine is diluted {mahul: thinned out} with water.
23 Your princes are rebellious {sorerim: those defying authority} and companions of thieves; they all love bribes and pursue rewards. They do not judge the fatherless {yatom: one without parental support}, nor does the dispute of the widow reach them.
24 Therefore, the utterance of the Lord, the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Divine Commander}, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah! I will comfort Myself regarding My adversaries {mitsaray: oppressor}, and I will avenge Myself on My enemies.”
25 And I {YHWH, Administering Judgment} will turn My hand upon you, and I will smelt away your dross {sig: impurities}, and I will remove all your tin.
26 And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; then you will be called the city of righteousness {tzedek: just order}, the faithful city {ne’emanah: trustworthy}.
27 Zion shall be redeemed {tipadeh: act of redemption} with justice, and her repentant ones with righteousness {tsedaqah: covenant faithfulness}.
28 And the destruction {shever: breaking apart} of the transgressors and the sinners will be together, and those who forsake the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} will be consumed.
29 For you will be ashamed of the oaks {elim: large strong trees} which you have desired, and you will be humiliated by the gardens {ganot: idol groves} which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an oak {elah: enduring strength imagery} whose leaf fades, and like a garden {ganah: cultivated blessing} that has no water.
31 And the strong will be like tow {ne'oret: coarse flax fibre}, and his work like a spark {nitzotz: sudden flame}; both of them will burn together, and none will quench them.