Isaiah 1:21-31 - Purifying Jerusalem
21 How the faithful town has become a prostitute! She was full of justice, and righteousness lived in her. But now murderers live there! 22 Your silver is not pure. Your beer is watered down. 23 Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves. They all love bribes and run after gifts. They never defend orphans. They do not listen to the widows' pleas.
24 That is why Jehovah, Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, says: How horrible it will be when I take revenge on my opponents! I will avenge myself against my enemies. 25 I will turn my power against you (turn the back of my hand upon you). I will remove your impurities with bleach. I will get rid of all your worthless qualities. 26 I will give you judges like you had long ago, advisers like you had in the beginning. After that you will be called the Righteous City, the Faithful City.
27 Jehovah's justice will pardon Zion. Those who return will be pardoned by Jehovah's righteousness. 28 Rebels and sinners will be crushed at the same time. Those who abandon Jehovah will come to an end. 29 You will be ashamed of the oaks that you wanted to worship. You will be embarrassed by the garden that you have chosen for your gods. 30 You will be like an oak whose leaves wither and like a garden without water. 31 Strong people will become tinder for a fire. Their work will be the spark. Both of them will burn together. There will be no one to put out the fire.