15. So when you stretch out your hands ⌊in prayer⌋,I will turn my eyes away from you.Even though you offer many prayers,I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood.
16. “Wash yourselves! Become clean!Get your evil deeds out of my sight.Stop doing evil.
17. Learn to do good.Seek justice.Arrest oppressors.Defend orphans.Plead the case of widows.”
18. “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord.“Though your sins are bright red,they will become as white as snow.Though they are dark red,they will become as white as wool.
19. If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the best from the land.
20. But if you refuse and rebel,you will be destroyed by swords.”The Lord has spoken.
21. How the faithful town has become a prostitute!She was full of justice,and righteousness lived in her.But now murderers live there!
22. Your silver is not pure.Your wine is watered down.
23. Your rulers are rebels, friends with thieves.They all love bribes and run after gifts.They never defend orphans.They don’t notice the widows’ pleas.
24. That’s why the Lord, the Lord of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says,“How horrible it will be when I take revenge on my opponents!I will avenge myself against my enemies.
25. I will turn my power against you.I will remove your impurities with bleach.I will get rid of all your impurities.
26. I will give you judges like you had long ago,advisers like you had in the beginning.After that you will be called the Righteous City,the Faithful Town.”
27. Zion will be pardoned by ⌊the Lord’s⌋ justice,and those who return will be pardonedby ⌊the Lord’s⌋ righteousness.
28. Rebels and sinners will be crushed at the same time,and those who abandon the Lord will come to an end.
29. You will be ashamed of the oaks that you wanted to worshipand embarrassed by the garden that you have chosen for your gods.