Isaiah 1:16-27

¹⁶Wash yourselves and clean yourselves up. Get rid of your sins—I don't want to see them! Stop doing evil!

¹⁷Learn to do good; strive for justice, condemn those who oppress others; support the rights of orphans, take up cases to defend widows.

¹⁸Come on, let's argue this out, says the Lord. Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will become white like snow. Even though they are red like crimson, they will become like wool.

¹⁹If you really want this, and if you do as you're told, then you yourselves will eat the best things that the land produces.

²⁰But if you are defiant, and if you are rebellious, you'll be killed by the sword. This is what the Lord has declared!

²¹The city that used to be faithful has turned into a prostitute! Once she operated on principles of justice and followed what was right, but now only murderers live there.

²²Your silver has become worthless waste; you wine has been watered down.

²³Your leaders are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and want to get kickbacks. They don't defend the rights of orphans, and refuse to take cases to help widows.

²⁴So this is what the Lord says, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel: Ha! I will take satisfaction in punishing my enemies, by paying back those who hate me!

²⁵I will turn against you. I will refine you in a furnace, removing all impurities.

²⁶I will give you good leaders as you used to have before, wise counselors as you had in the beginning. After that you will once again be called the City of Integrity, the Faithful City.

²⁷Zion will be rescued by justice, those who repent by doing right.