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Isaiah 1
10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith 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 ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
(8,6,8,6)
Rulers of Sodom! hear the voice
of heav’n’s eternal Lord;
Men of Gomorrah! bend your ear
submissive to his word.
’Tis thus he speaks; To what intent
are your oblations vain?
Why load my altars with your gifts,
polluted and profane?
Burnt-off’rings long may blaze to heav’n,
and incense cloud the skies;
The worship and the worshipper
are hateful in my eyes.
Your rites, your fasts, your pray’rs, I scorn,
and pomp of solemn days:
I know your hearts are full of guile,
and Crooked are your ways.
But cleanse your hands, ye guilty race,
and cease from deeds of sin;
Learn in your actions to be just,
and pure in heart within.
Mock not my name with honours vain,
but keep my holy laws;
Do justice to the friendless poor,
and plead the widow’s cause.
Then though your guilty souls are stained
with sins of crimson dye,
Yet, through my grace with snow itself
in whiteness they shall vie.
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