Isaiah 1:16-31 - Purification Of Jerusalem
16 Wash! Make yourselves clean! Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes! Cease to do evil! 17 Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue [the] oppressed! Defend [the] orphan! Plead for [the] widow!
18 "Come now, and let us argue," says Yahweh. "Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and you are obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. 20 But if you refuse and you rebel, you shall be devoured [by the] sword. For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken."
21 How has a faithful city become like a whore? Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22 Your silver has become [as] dross; Your wine [is] diluted with waters. 23 Your princes [are] rebels and companions of thieves. Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend [the] orphan and [the] legal dispute of [the] widow does not come before them.
24 Therefore, the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: "Ah, I will be relieved of my enemies, and I will avenge myself on my foes. 25 And I will turn my hand against you; I will purify your dross like lye, and I will remove all [of] your tin. 26 And I will restore your judges, as at the first, and your counselors, as at the beginning. After this {you will be called} the city of righteousness, faithful city.
27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those of her who repent, by righteousness. 28 But [the] destruction [of] rebels and sinners [shall be] together, and those who forsake Yahweh will perish. 29 For you will be ashamed of [the] oaks [in] which you delighted, and you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. 30 For you shall be like an oak withering its leaves, and like a garden where there is no water for her. 31 And the strong [man] shall become like tinder, and his work like a spark. And both of them shall burn together, and there is not one to quench [them]."