16. Wash! Make yourselves clean! Remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes! Cease to do evil!
17. Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed! Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow!
18. “Come now, and let us argue,” says Yahweh. “Even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
19. If you are willing and you are obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
20. But if you refuse and you rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
21. How has a faithful city become like a whore? Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
22. Your silver has become as dross; Your wine is diluted with waters.
23. Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.
24. Therefore, the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will be relieved of my enemies, and I will avenge myself on my foes.
25. And I will turn my hand against you; I will purify your dross like lye, and I will remove all of your tin.
26. And I will restore your judges, as at the first, and your counselors, as at the beginning. After this you will be called the city of righteousness, faithful city.
27. Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those of her who repent, by righteousness.
28. But the destruction of rebels and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake Yahweh will perish.
29. For you will be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted, and you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen.
30. For you shall be like an oak withering its leaves, and like a garden where there is no water for her.
31. And the strong man shall become like tinder, and his work like a spark. And both of them shall burn together, and there is not one to quench them.”