The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 1

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth” — the first chapter of the great prophetic book, read as the haftarah on the sabbath before Tisha B'Av.

1THE VISION of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for HaShem hath spoken: Children I have reared, and brought up, and they have rebelled against Me.

3The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.

4Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly; they have forsaken HaShem, they have contemned the Holy One of Israel, they are turned away backward.

5On what part will ye yet be stricken, seeing ye stray away more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;

6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores: they have not been pressed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.

7Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by floods.

8And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

9Except HaShem of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of HaShem, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our G-d, ye people of Gomorrah.

11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith HaShem; I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.

12When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample My courts?

13Bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly.

14Your new moons and your appointed seasons My soul hateth; they are a burden unto Me; I am weary to bear them.

15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

16Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil;

17Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18Come now, and let us reason together, saith HaShem; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land;

20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of HaShem hath spoken.

21How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.

23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24Therefore saith the L-rd, HaShem of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies;

25And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy;

26And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

27Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness.

28But the destruction of the transgressors and the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake HaShem shall be consumed.

29For they shall be ashamed of the terebinths which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

30For ye shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

31And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

31 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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