Isaiah 1:21-31 - Purifying Jerusalem

²¹ The faithful city—
what an adulteress she has become!
She was once full of justice.
Righteousness once dwelt in her—
but now, murderers!
²² Your silver has become dross,
your beer is diluted with water.
²³ Your rulers are rebels,
friends of thieves.
They all love graft
and chase after bribes.
They do not defend the rights of the fatherless,
and the widow’s case never comes before them.

²⁴ Therefore the Lord God of Hosts,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah, I will gain satisfaction from My foes;
I will take revenge against My enemies.
²⁵ I will turn My hand against you
and will burn away your dross completely;
I will remove all your impurities.
²⁶ I will restore your judges to what they once were,
and your advisers to their former state.
Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,
a Faithful City.”

²⁷ Zion will be redeemed by justice,
her repentant ones by righteousness.
²⁸ But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed,
and those who abandon the Lord will perish.
²⁹ Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees
you desired,
and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens
you have chosen.
³⁰ For you will become like an oak
whose leaves are withered,
and like a garden without water.
³¹ The strong one will become tinder,
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench the flames.