Alas for this sinful nation, which are expert in blasphemies; a seed of ungracious people, corrupt in their ways. They have forsaken the LORD; they have provoked the holy one of Israel unto anger, and are gone backward.

Wherefore should ye be plagued any more? For ye are ever falling away. The whole head is sick, and the heart is very heavy.

From the sole of the foot unto the head, there is no whole part in all your body: but all are wounds, botches, sores and stripes, which can neither be helped, bound up, mollified, nor eased with any ointment.

Your land lieth waste, your cities are burnt up, your enemies devour your land, and ye must be fain to stand, and look upon it: and it is desolate, as it were with enemies in a battle.

Moreover the daughter of Zion is left alone like a cottage in a vineyard, like a watch house in time of war, like a besieged city.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye tyrants of Sodom, and hearken unto the law of our God, thou people of Gomorrah.

Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your new moons, your Sabbaths and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain.

I hate your new holidays and fastings, even from my very heart. I cannot away with such vanity and holding in of the people. They lay upon me as a burden, and I am weary of bearing them!

When ye hold out your hands, I will turn my eyes from you. And though ye make many prayers, yet will I hear nothing at all; for your hands are full of blood.

Thus saith the LORD God: Wash and be clean; put away the wickedness of your imaginations out of my sight. Cease to do evil and learn to do well.

And so though your sins be like to purple, they shall be made as white as snow; and though they be as red as scarlet, they shall be made like white wool.

How happeneth it then that the righteous city, which was full of equity, is become unfaithful as an whore? Righteousness dwelt in it, but now murder.

Thy princes are traitors and companions of thieves. They love gifts altogether, and gape for rewards. As for the fatherless, they help him not to his right, neither will they let the widows causes come before them.

and set thy judges again as they were sometime, and thy Senators as they were from the beginning. Then shalt thou be called the righteous city, the faithful city.

For the transgressors and ungodly, and such as are become unfaithful unto the LORD, must altogether be utterly destroyed.

Ye shall be as an oak whose leaves are fallen away, and as a garden that hath no moistness.

And as for the glory of your graven images, it shall be turned to dry straw, and he that made them to a spark. And they shall both burn together, so that no man shall be able to quench them.

And he shall be judge among the heathen and tell many nations their faults. And they shall turn their swords into mattocks and their spears into scythes. One nation shall not lift up a sword against another, neither shall they teach to war any more.

As soon as your land was full of silver and gold, and no end of your treasure; so soon as your land was full of strong horses and no end of your chariots:

Immediately was it full of idols also, even works of your own hands, which ye yourselves have fashioned, and your fingers have made.

And I shall give you children to be your princes, sayeth the LORD, and babes shall have the rule of you.

Yea, one shall take a friend of his own kindred by the bosom, and say, "Thou hast clothing, thou shalt be our head, for thou mayest keep us from this fall and peril."

For Jerusalem is overthrown, and Judah must fall to the ground, because that both their words and counsels are against the LORD, they provoke the presence of his Majesty unto anger.

Children are extortioners of my people, and women have rule of them. O my people, thy leaders deceive thee, and tread out the way of thy footsteps.

The LORD shall come forth to reason with the senators and princes of his people, and shall say thus unto them, "It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard; the robbery of the poor is in your house.

Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD, "Seeing the daughters of Zion are become so proud, and come in with stretched out necks, and with vain wanton eyes; seeing they come in tripping so nicely with their feet:

Then shall seven wives take hold of one man, and say, "We will lay all our meat and clothing together in common, only that we may be called thy wives, and that this shameful reproof may be taken from us."

Then shall the remnant in Zion and the remnant at Jerusalem be called holy - namely, all such as are written among the living at Jerusalem -

And Jerusalem shall be a tabernacle for a shadow because of heat in the daytime, and place and refuge where a man may keep him from weather and rain.

What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore than hath it given thorns, where I looked to have had grapes of it?

The LORD of Hosts roundeth me thus in mine ear: Shall not many greater and more gorgeous houses be so waste, that no man shall dwell in them?

Woe unto them that rise up early to use themselves in drunkenness, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine.

In those companies are harps and lutes, tabrets and pipes, and wine. But they regard not the work of the LORD, and consider not the operation of his hands.

Then shall the sheep eat their appointed fodder; and the rich mens' lands, that were laid waste, shall strangers devour.

Woe be unto vain persons, that draw wickedness unto them with cords of vanity; and sin, as it were with a cart rope.

Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.

Woe be unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness.

Therefore like as fire licketh up the straw, and as the flame consumeth the stubble: Even so - when their root is full - their blossom shall vanish away like dust or smoke. For they have cast away the law of the LORD of Hosts, and blaspheme the word of the holy maker of Israel.

There is not one faint or feeble among them, no not a sluggish nor slippery person. There shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, nor loose the latchet of his shoe.

Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent. Their horses' hoofs are like flint, and their cart wheels like a stormy wind.

Their cry is as it were of a lion, and the roaring of them like lion's whelps. They shall roar, and haunch up the prey, and no man shall recover it or get it from them.

In the same year that king Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting upon a high and glorious seat, and his train filled the temple.

After this I heard the voice of the LORD, taking advisement on this manner, "Whom shall I send, and who will be our messenger?" Then I said, "Here am I, send me."

Now when the house of David - that is Ahaz - heard word thereof, that Syria and Ephraim were confederate together: His heart quaked, yea and the hearts also of his people, like as a tree in the field that is moved with the wind.

"Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God, from alow beneath, or from on high above."

For at the same time shall the LORD whistle for the flies that are about the water of Egypt, and for the bees in the Assyrian land.

At the same time all vineyards - though there be a thousand vines in one, and were sold for a thousand silverlings - shall be turned to briers and thorns.

And as for all hills that now are hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of briers and thorns. But the cattle shall be driven thither, and the sheep shall feed there."

And immediately I called unto me faithful witnesses: Uriah the priest, and Zachariah the son of Barachiah.

Take your counsel together, yet must your counsel come to nought; go in hand withal, yet shall it not prosper. For God is with us.

"Round with none of them, whosoever say, 'Yonder people are bound together.' Nevertheless fear them not, neither be afraid of them,

but sanctify the LORD of Hosts: let him be your fear and dread.

But lo, as for me, and the children which the LORD hath given me: we are a token and a wonder in Israel, for the LORD of Hosts' sake, which dwelleth upon the hill of Zion.

Moreover all temerarious and seditious power, yea, where there is but a coat filled with blood, shall be burnt, and feed the fire.

For all they which inform the people that they be in a right cause, such be deceivers. Such as men think also to be perfect among these, are but cast aways.

Therefore shall the LORD have no pleasure in their young men, neither favour their fatherless and widows. For they are all together hypocrites and wicked, and all their mouths speak folly. After all this shall not the LORD's wrath cease, but yet his hand shall be stretched out still.

For the ungodly burn, as a fire in the briers and thorns: And as it were out of a fire in a wood or a red bush, so ascendeth the smoke of their pride.

For this cause shall the wrath of the LORD of Hosts fall upon the land, and the people shall be consumed, as it were with fire: no man shall spare his brother,

wherethrough the poor are oppressed on every side, and the innocents of my people are therewith robbed of judgment: that widows may be your prey, and that ye may rob the fatherless.

What will ye do in time of the visitation and destruction, that shall come from far? To whom will ye run for help? Or to whom will ye give your honour, that he may keep it?

That ye come not among the prisoners, or lie among the dead? After all this shall not the wrath of the LORD cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still.

for he sayeth, "Are not my princes all kings?

Is not Calno as easy to win as Carchemish? Is it harder to conquer Hamath than Arpad? Or is it lighter to overcome Damascus than Samaria?"

As who say, "I were able to win the kingdom of the Idolaters and their gods, but not Jerusalem and Samaria.

My hand hath found out the Hosts of the people, as it were a nest. And like as eggs, that were laid here and there, are gathered together: So do I gather all countries. And there is no man, that dare be so bold as to touch a feather, that dare open his mouth, or once whisper."

But doth the axe boost itself, against him that heweth therewith? Or doth the saw make any bragging, against him that ruleth it? That were even like as if the rod did exalt itself against him that beareth it: or as though the staff should magnify itself, as who say it were not wood.

Therefore shall the LORD of Hosts send him poverty in his riches, and burn up his power, as it were with a fire.

After that day shall the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped out of the house of Jacob, seek no more comfort at him that smote them, but shall comfort themselves with faithfulness and truth in the LORD, the holy one of Israel.

Madmannah shall tremble for fear, but the citizens of Gebim are manly,

The cow and the Bear shall feed together, and their young ones shall lie together. The Lion shall eat straw like the ox, or the cow.

At the same time shall the LORD take in hand again, to conquer the remnant of his people which are left alive: From the Assyrians, Egyptians, Arabians, Ethiopians, Elamites, Chaldeans, Antiochians and Islands of the sea.

So that then thou shalt say, "I will praise thee O LORD, that though thou were angry with me, yet thine anger is turned, and thou hast comforted me.

Lift up the banner upon the high hill, call unto them; hold up your hand, that the princes may go in at the door.

And Babylon shall be as a hunted or chased doe, and as a flock without a shepherd. Every man shall turn to his own people, and flee each one into his own land.

and thou art cast out of thy grave like a wild branch - like as dead men's raiment that are shot through with the sword, as they that go down to the stones of the deep, as a dead corpse that is trodden under feet -

The Assyrians shall be destroyed in my land, and upon my mountains will I tread them under foot. Wherethrough his yoke shall come from you, and his burden shall be taken from your shoulders.

The same year that king Ahaz died, God threatened by Isaiah on this manner:

Rejoice not, thou whole Philistia, as though the rod of him that beateth thee were broken: For out of the serpent's root, there shall come an adder, and the fruit shall be a fiery worm.

This is the heavy burden upon Moab: Ar of Moab was destroyed and overthrown in the night season: Kir also, in Moab, perished in the night and vanished away.

They went up to the idols' house, even to Dibon to the high places, to weep for Nebo; and Moab did mourn for Medeba. All their heads were bald, and all their beards shaven.

In their streets were they girded about with sackcloth. In all the tops of their houses and streets was there nothing, but mourning and weeping.

The waters of Nimrim were dried up, the grass was withered, and the herbs destroyed, and the green things gone.

Because the waters of Dimon were full of blood, I will add more unto Dimon: and lions upon the remnant of the land, and on them that are escaped.

Gather your counsel, come together in judgment; cover us with your shadow in the midday, as the night doth: hide the chased, and betray not them that are fled.

We have heard of the pride of Moab: it is well known. He is very proud, presumptuous, arrogant, and full of indignation, and vain are his lies.

Therefore shall Moab make lamentation because of the Moabites that shall be slain: yea, they shall wail all together. Because of the foundations of the city of brick shall ye complain, even ye lame people that are left only behind.

The suburbs also of Heshbon were made waste, and the princes of the Gentiles hewed down the vineyards of Sibmah, which were planted with noble grapes, and spread unto Jazer, and went unto the end of the desert; whose branches stretched their fellows forth beyond the sea.

Therefore I mourned for Jazer, and for the vineyards of Sibmah with great sorrow. I poured my tears upon Heshbon and Elealeh, for all their songs were laid down, in their harvest and gathering of their grapes.

Some gathering indeed shall there be left in it, even as in the shaking of an olive tree, there remain two of three berries in the upper bough, and four or five in the branches. Thus the LORD God of Israel hath spoken.

And shall not turn to the altars that are the work of his own hands, neither shall he look upon groves and images, which his fingers have wrought.

At the same time shall their strong cities be desolate, like as were once the forsaken plows and corn, which they forsook, for fear of the children of Israel.

Reed and rush shall fail, the grass by the waterside or upon the river bank, yea and whatsoever is sown by the waters, shall be withered, destroyed, and brought to naught.

I am come of the old regal Progeny"? Where are they? Where are now thy wise men? Let them tell thee, if they can, what the LORD of Hosts hath taken in hand against Egypt.

The princes of Zoan are become fools, and the princes of Noph are deceived: yea, they deceive Egypt with their nobility of their stock.

Neither shall the head or tail, the branch or reed be able to do any work in Egypt.

This shall be a token or testimony unto the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt, when they shall cry unto him, because of those that oppress them. And he shall send them a Captain and a Saviour to deliver them.

In the same year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, where Sargon the king of the Assyrians sent him; what time as he also besieged Ashdod, and won it the same season:

They shall be also at their wits end, and ashamed one of another: the Egyptians of the Ethiopians, and the Ethiopians of the Egyptians, considering what glory they were in afore.

Moreover, they that dwell in the Isles shall say even the same day, 'Behold, thus are we regarded! Whither shall we fly for help, that we might be delivered from the king of the Assyrians? How will we escape?'"

With this, the reins of my back were full of pain: Pangs came upon me, as upon a woman in her travail. It made me stoop when I heard it, and it vexed me when I saw it.