7. Your country is desolate,your cities are burned with fire;strangers devour your landin your presence;and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8. The daughter of Zion is leftlike a shelter in a vineyard,like a hut in a field of melons,like a besieged city.
9. Unless the Lord of Hostshad left to us a very small remnant,we would have been as Sodom;we would have been like Gomorrah.
10. Hear the word of the Lord,you rulers of Sodom;listen to the law of our God,you people of Gomorrah:
11. For what purpose is the multitudeof your sacrifices to Me? says the Lord.I am full of the burnt offerings of rams,and the fat of fed animals.I do not delight in the blood of bulls,or of lambs, or of male goats.
12. When you come to appear before Me,who has required this at your hand,to trample My courts?
13. Bring no more vain offerings;incense is an abomination to Me.New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear with evil assemblies.
14. My soul hatesyour New Moons and your appointed feasts;they are a burden to Me;I am weary of bearing them.
15. When you reach out your hands,I will hide My eyes from you;even when you make many prayers,I will not hear.Your hands are full of blood.
16. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;put away the evil from your deeds, from before My eyes.Cease to do evil,
17. learn to do good; seek justice,relieve the oppressed;judge the fatherless,plead for the widow.
18. Come now, and let us reason together,says the Lord.Though your sins be as scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they be red like crimson,they shall be as wool.
19. If you are willing and obedient,you shall eat the good of the land;