Isaiah 1:1-5, 9, 11

This is the vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw about what would happen to Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah saw these things while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. Heaven and earth, listen, because the LORD is speaking: “I raised my children and helped them grow up, but they have turned against me. An ox knows its master, and a donkey knows where its owner feeds it, but the people of Israel do not know me; my people do not understand.” How terrible! Israel is a nation of sin, a people loaded down with guilt, a group of children doing evil, children who are full of evil. They have left the LORD; they hate God, the Holy One of Israel, and have turned away from him as if he were a stranger. Why should you continue to be punished? Why do you continue to turn against him? Your whole head is hurt, and your whole heart is sick.

The LORD All-Powerful allowed a few of our people to live. Otherwise we would have been completely destroyed like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The LORD says, “I do not want all these sacrifices. I have had enough of your burnt sacrifices of male sheep and fat from fine animals. I am not pleased by the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.