1 4 Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.
1 5 Why will you still be smitten, that you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 1 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they are not pressed out, or bound up, or softened with oil.
1 7 Your country lies desolate, your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence aliens devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by aliens. 1 8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
1 9 If Yahweh of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
1 10 Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 1 11 "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says Yahweh; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
1 12 "When you come to appear before me, who requires of you this trampling of my courts? 1 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 1 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. 1 15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 1 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 1 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
1 18 "Come now, let us reason together, says Yahweh: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 1 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 1 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken."