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⁴ Oh sinful nation,
people weighed down with iniquity,^(C1)
brood of evildoers,^(C2)
depraved children!
They have abandoned^(C3) the Lord;
they have despised^(C4) the Holy One of Israel;^(C5)
they have turned their backs on him.

⁵ Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep on rebelling?
The whole head is hurt,
and the whole heart is sick.⁶ From the sole of the foot even to the head,^(C1)
no spot is uninjured^(C2)—
wounds, welts, and festering sores
not cleansed, bandaged,
or soothed with oil.

⁷ Your land is desolate,
your cities burned down;^(C1)
foreigners devour your fields
right in front of you—
a desolation, like a place demolished by foreigners.⁸ Daughter Zion^(C1) is abandoned
like a shelter in a vineyard,
like a shack in a cucumber field,
like a besieged city.⁹ If the Lord of Armies^(C1)
had not left us a few survivors,^(C2)
we would be like Sodom,
we would resemble Gomorrah.^(C3)

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord,^(C1)
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!^(C2)11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.^(C1)12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you—
this trampling of my courts?¹³ Stop bringing useless offerings.^(C1)
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths,^(C2)
and the calling of solemn assemblies^(C3)—
I cannot stand iniquity^(C4) with a festival.¹⁴ I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to me;
I am tired of putting up with them.¹⁵ When you spread out your hands in prayer,^(C1)
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen.^(C2)
Your hands are covered with blood.^(C3)

¹⁸ “Come, let us settle this,”^(C1)
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;^(C2)
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.^(C1)20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”^(C1)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(C2)

²¹ The faithful town—
what an adulteress^(F1) she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her,
but now, murderers!²² Your silver has become dross to be discarded,
your beer^(F1) is diluted with water.²³ Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.^(C1)
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.^(C2)
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.^(C3)

²⁴ Therefore the Lord God of Armies,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will get even with my foes;
I will take revenge against my enemies.^(C1)25 I will turn my hand against you^(C1)
and will burn away your dross completely;^(F1)
I will remove all your impurities.^(C2)26 I will restore your judges^(C1) to what they were at first,^(F1)
and your advisers to what they were at the start.^(F2)
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,^(C2)
a Faithful Town.”

²⁷ Zion will be redeemed by justice,
those who repent, by righteousness.^(C1)28 At the same time both rebels and sinners will be broken,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.²⁹ Indeed, they^(F1) will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired,^(C1)
and you will be embarrassed because of the garden shrines
you have chosen.^(C2)30 For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water.^(C1)31 The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,^(C1)
with no one to extinguish the flames.^(C2)