Isaiah

Isaiah 1

1 This ^{aThis book has been translated from the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsaa) of the DSS. The MT, LXX, Syr, Targ, and other ancient texts are compared in footnotes where they may vary from 1QIsaa and other DSS mss. Some of these ancient readings were incorporated instead of the DSS Isaiah text.} is the vision that Amoz’s son Isaiah ^{b1:1 The Heb. name Isaiah means The LORD has saved} had about Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns ^{c1:1 Lit. days} of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.ISV — Isaiah 1:1

2 Listen, you heavens, and let the ^{d1:2 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks the} earth pay attention, because the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them to adulthood, but then they rebelled against me.ISV — Isaiah 1:2

3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding trough, but ^{e1:3 So 4QIsaj; 1QIsaa MT lack but} Israel doesn’t know, and ^{f1:3 So 4QIsaj; 1QIsaa MT lack and} my people don’t understand.ISV — Isaiah 1:3

4 “Oh, you sinful nation! You people burdened down by iniquity! You offspring of those who keep practicing what is evil! You corrupt children! “They’ve abandoned the LORD; they’ve despised the Holy One of Israel; in their estrangement, they’ve walked away from me. ^{g1:4 Lit. they’ve gone back}ISV — Isaiah 1:4

5 “Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? Your whole head is sick, and your whole heart is faint.ISV — Isaiah 1:5

6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there’s no soundness evident ^{h1:6 Lit. soundness in it} — only bruises, sores, and festering wounds that haven’t been cleaned out, bandaged, or treated ^{i1:6 Or softened} with oil.”ISV — Isaiah 1:6

7 “Your country lies desolate; your cities have been incinerated. Before your very eyes, foreigners are devouring your land— they’ve brought devastation on it, ^{j1:7 So 1QIsaa; MurIsa MT LXX read Devastated} while the land is ^{k1:7 DSS MT lack the land is} overthrown by foreigners.ISV — Isaiah 1:7

8 “The daughter of Zion is left abandoned, like a booth in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, or like a city under siege.ISV — Isaiah 1:8

9 If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom; we would be like Gomorrah.ISV — Isaiah 1:9

10 “Listen to what the LORD says, you rulers of Sodom, and ^{l1:10 So 1:10 1QIsaa Syr; MT LXX Targ Vulgate lack and} pay attention to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!ISV — Isaiah 1:10

11 “How do your voluminous sacrifices benefit me?” the LORD is asking. “I’ve had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don’t enjoy the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.ISV — Isaiah 1:11

12 “When you come to present yourselves in my presence, ^{m1:12 Lit. come for my face to appear} who has required you to trample on my courts?ISV — Isaiah 1:12

13 Stop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within ^{n1:13 Lit. and} a solemn assembly.ISV — Isaiah 1:13

14 As for your New Moons and your appointed festivals, I abhor ^{o1:14 Lit. festivals, my soul abhors} them. They’ve become a burden to me; I’ve grown weary of carrying that burden. ^{p1:14 Lit. carrying them}ISV — Isaiah 1:14

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, ^{q1:15 DSS MT lack in prayer} I’ll hide my eyes from you. Even though you pray repeatedly, I won’t listen. Your hands are full of blood, your fingers drenched ^{r1:15 DSS lack drenched} with iniquity.” ^{s1:15 MT 4QIsaf lack this line}ISV — Isaiah 1:15

16 “Wash yourselves, and ^{t1:16 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsaf MT lack and} make yourselves clean; remove your evil behavior from my presence; stop practicing what is evil.ISV — Isaiah 1:16

17 Learn to practice what is good; seek justice, alleviate oppression, ^{u1:17 Or rescue the oppressed} defend orphans ^{v1:17 Or defend the fatherless} in court, and ^{w1:17 DSS MT lack and} plead the widow’s case.ISV — Isaiah 1:17

18 “Please come, and let’s reason together,” implores the LORD. “Even though your ^{x1:18 Lit. your (pl.)} sins are like scarlet, they’ll be white like snow. Though they’re like crimson, ^{y1:18 So 1QIsaa LXX; 4QIsaf MT read they’re red like crimson} they’ll become like wool.ISV — Isaiah 1:18

19 If you’re willing and obedient, you’ll eat the best that the land produces;ISV — Isaiah 1:19

20 but ^{z1:20 So 1QIsaa LXX Targ Syr; 4QIsaf lacks but} if you refuse and rebel, you’ll be devoured by the sword, ^{aa1:20 So 1QIsaa Targ Syr; LXX reads the sword will devour you} because the LORD ^{bb1:20 Lit. LORD’s mouth} has spoken.”ISV — Isaiah 1:20

21 “How the faithful city has become a whore, she who used to be filled with justice! Righteousness used to reside within her, but now only murderers live there.ISV — Isaiah 1:21

22 Your silver has ^{cc1:22 So MT; 1QIsaa reads have} become dross, your best wine is diluted with water.ISV — Isaiah 1:22

23 Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. All of them are lovers of ^{dd1:23 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads Everyone loves} bribes and are runners ^{ee1:23 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads and run} after gifts. They don’t bring justice to orphans, ^{ff1:23 Or to the fatherless} and the widow’s case never comes up for review in their court.” ^{gg1:23 Lit. comes before them}ISV — Isaiah 1:23

24 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies, the one who is Israel’s Mighty One, declares: “Now I’ll get relief from his ^{hh1:24 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsaf MT LXX Vulgate read my} enemies and avenge myself on his ^{ii1:24 So 1QIsaa; LXX MT read my} foes.ISV — Isaiah 1:24

25 When I turn ^{jj1:25 So 1QIsaa; LXX MT read And let me turn} my attention to you, ^{kk1:25 Lit. my hand against you} I’ll refine your dross as in a furnace. ^{ll1:25 1QIsaa lacks as in a furnace; MT reads as lye} I’ll remove ^{mm1:25 So 1QIsaa 4QIsaf; MT reads Let me remove} all your alloy.ISV — Isaiah 1:25

26 Let me restore ^{nn1:26 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsaf reads I will restore} your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you’ll be called ‘The Righteous City’ and ‘The Faithful City of Zion’. ^{oo1:26 So LXX; the Heb. lacks Zion} ISV — Isaiah 1:26

27 “Zion ^{pp1:27 So MT; 1QIsaa reading unclear} will be redeemed by justice, and her repentant ones ^{qq1:27 So 1QIsaa MT 4QIsaf; LXX reads her captivity} by righteousness.ISV — Isaiah 1:27

28 Rebels and sinners will be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD will be consumed.ISV — Isaiah 1:28

29 They’ll be ashamed of the oak trees that you desired; and you’ll blush because of the gardens that you have chosen.ISV — Isaiah 1:29

30 You’ll be like an oak whose leaf is withering, like an unwatered garden.ISV — Isaiah 1:30

31 Your ^{rr1:31 Lit. Your (pl.); so 1QIsaa Vulgate. The} strong one ^{ss1:31 LXX MT read Their strength} will be like tinder, and your work ^{tt1:31 So 1QIsaa; MT reads their work; LXX reads their deeds} a spark; both of them will burn together, with no one to quench the flames that burn ^{uu1:31 DSS MT lack the flames that burn} them.”ISV — Isaiah 1:31