Thomson(i)
5 What! must you persisting in iniquity be smitten still more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint:
6 from the feet to the head, there is no soundness therein. Is it not, here a wound, there a bruise, there a putrefying sore? there is no applying poultice, nor oil, nor bandages.
7 Your land is a desert: your cities are burnt with fire. As for your country, before your eyes strangers are devouring it; and it is laid waste, being subdued by foreign tribes.
8 Must the daughter of Sion be left as a shed in a vineyard: and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers; as a city taken by siege?
9 Had not the Lord of Hosts left us a seed, we should have been as Sodom and made like Gomorra.
10 Hear a word of the Lord, chiefs of Sodom! Attend to the law of God, ye people of Gomorra!
11 "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?" saith the Lord: I am cloyed with whole burnt offerings of rams: in the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats I have no delight;
12 nor should you come to appear before me: for who hath required these at your hands? You shall no more be admitted to tread my court.
13 Though you bring fine flour; it is a vain incense: it is an abomination to me. Your new moons and sabbaths and great day I cannot endure:
14 your fasting and cessation from labour; and your new moons and your festivals my soul hateth. You are become loathsome to me; I will no longer remit your sins.
15 When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn mine eyes from you: and though you multiply prayer, I will not hearken to you: for your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash and become clean: remove iniquities from your souls; in my presence, cease from your evil deeds;
17 learn to do good; seek judgment; deliver him who is injured; administer justice to the orphan, and plead the cause of the widow:
18 then come: [let our controversy be brought to issue, saith the Lord] and though your sins be as a purple stain; I will make you white as snow; though they be as a stain of scarlet; I will make you white as wool.
19 If you indeed be willing and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land:
20 but if you refuse and hearken not to me, the sword shall devour you; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these words."
21 How is the faithful city become a harlot? Sion that was full of justice! In it righteousness made its abode; but now murderers.
22 Your silver is not pure: thy vintners mix the wine with water.
23 The chiefs are rebellious; associates of thieves: they love gifts; they seek rewards: to orphans they do not administer justice; and to the cause of widows they do not attend.
24 Therefore thus saith the sovereign Lord of hosts. "Alas for the rulers of Israel; for my wrath against these adversaries shall not abate. On these enemies of mine I will execute judgment: