A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amaz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem,

in the days of Isaiah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know. My people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation,

a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evil-doers, children who deal corruptly. They have

forsaken the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel.

They are utterly estranged.

Why will you still be struck down?

Why will you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.

From the soul of the foot, even to the head, there is no soundness

in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds. They are not pressed out or bound up or softened

with oil. Your country lies desolate. Your cities are burned with fire.

In your very presence, foreigners devour your land.

It is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.

And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard,

like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom,

and become like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom. Give ear to the teaching

of our God, you people of Gomorrah. What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices, says the

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