THE BOOKE OF THE PROPHET

ISAIAH

CHAPTER I

HE Vision of Isaiah the sonne of Amoz, which Isaiah comhee sawe concerning Iudah and Ierusalem, in plaineth of Iudah for her the dayes of Uzziah, Iotham, Ahaz, and Heze- rebellion. kiah kings of Iudah. Heare, O heavens, and give eare, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken; I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The oxe knoweth his owner, and the asse his masters cribbe: but Israel doeth not know, my people doeth not consider. Ah sinnefull nation, a people laden with iniquitie, a seede of evill doers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy one of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Why should yee be stricken any more? yee will revolt more and He lamenteth more the whole head is sicke, and the whole heart faint. From her iudgements. the sole of the foote, even unto the head, there is no soundnesse in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not beene closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oyntment. Your countrey is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your land, strangers devoure it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrowen by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged citie. Except the LORD of hostes had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have beene as Sodom, and we should have bene like unto Gomorrah.

their whole service.

Heare the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom, give eare unto He upbraideth the Law of our GoD, yee people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me, sayth the LORD? I am full of the burnt offerings of rammes, and the fat of fedde beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullockes, or of lambes, or of hee 4: A

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CHAPTER goates. When ye come to appeare before mee, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vaine oblations, incense is an abomination unto me: the new Moones, and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies I cannot away with; it is iniquitie, even the solemne meeting. Your new Moones, and your appointed Feasts my soule hateth: they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to beare them. And when ye spread foorth your handes, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when yee make many prayers I will not heare: your hands are full of blood.

He exhorteth to

threatnings.

Wash yee, make you cleane, put away the evill of your doings repentance, with from before mine eyes, cease to doe evill, learne to doe well, seeke promises and iudgement, relieve the oppressed, iudge the fatherlesse, plead for the widow. Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimsin, they shall be as wooll. If yee be willing and obedient, yee shall eate the good of the land. But if yee refuse and rebell, yee shalbe devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Bewailing their wicked

nesse, hee denounceth Gods iudgements.

Hee promiseth grace,

and threatneth destruction to the wicked.

Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of

iudgement, righteousnesse lodged in it; but now murtherers. Thy silver is become drosse, thy wine mixt with water. Thy princes are rebellious and companions of theeves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they iudge not the fatherlesse, neither doth the cause of the widowe come unto them. Therefore, saith the Lord, the LORD of hostes, the mighty one of Israel; Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies.

And I will turne my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy tinne. And I will restore thy iudges as at the first, and thy counsellers as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called the citie of righteousnesse, the faithfull citie. Zion shall be redeemed with iudgement, and her converts with righteousnesse.

And the destruction of the transgressours and of the sinners shall be together: and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the okes which yee have desired, and yee shalbe confounded for the gardens that yee have chosen. For yee shall be as an oke whose leafe fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as towe, and the maker of it as a sparke, and they shall both burne together, and none shall quench them.