7. Your country lies desolate;your cities are burned with fire;in your very presenceforeigners devour your land;it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.
8. And the daughter of Zion is leftlike a booth in a vineyard,like a lodge in a cucumber field,like a besieged city.
9. If the Lord of hostshad not left us a few survivors,we should have been like Sodom,and become like Gomorrah.
10. Hear the word of the Lord,you rulers of Sodom!Give ear to the teaching of our God,you people of Gomorrah!
11. “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?says the Lord;I have had enough of burnt offerings of ramsand the fat of well-fed beasts;I do not delight in the blood of bulls,or of lambs, or of goats.
12. “When you come to appear before me,who has required of youthis trampling of my courts?
13. Bring no more vain offerings;incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14. Your new moons and your appointed feastsmy soul hates;they have become a burden to me;I am weary of bearing them.
15. When you spread out your hands,I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers,I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
16. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
17. learn to do good; seek justice,correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless,plead the widow’s cause.
18. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they are red like crimson,they shall become like wool.
19. If you are willing and obedient,you shall eat the good of the land;
20. but if you refuse and rebel,you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
21. How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice!Righteousness lodged in her,but now murderers.
22. Your silver has become dross,your best wine mixed with water.
23. Your princes are rebelsand companions of thieves.Everyone loves a bribeand runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless,and the widow’s cause does not come to them.