Isaiah 1:21-27

²¹“ You people of Jerusalem previously faithfully worshiped only me, but now you have become like MET prostitutes who are not faithful to any husband. Previously, people there always acted justly/fairly and righteously, but now your city is full of murderers.

²²Previously, you were like MET pure silver, but now you have become like MET the scum that is left when silver is purified. Previously you were like pure wine, but you have become like MET wine that has a lot of water mixed with it.

²³Your leaders are rebels; they spend time with thieves. They all want to get bribes and force others to give them gifts in order that they do good things for them. They do not defend orphans in court, and they do not do all they can to enable widows to get what they should receive.

²⁴Therefore I, the Commander of the armies of angels, the mighty God of Israel, say to my enemies, 'I will get revenge on you; you will not cause me any more trouble. And I will pay you back for the evil things that you did.

²⁵I will raise my fist to strike you. I will punish you severely MET, as though MET you were silver and I needed to heat you very greatly to melt you and get rid of the impurities.

²⁶After that happens, I will give you good judges like you had previously; you will have wise counselors like you had long ago. Then people will call your city ‘a city where people act righteously,’ a city where people are loyal to me.' ”

²⁷Because the people of Jerusalem will do what is fair/just, their city will be restored; those who repent will be saved because of their acting righteously.