A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah in Jerusalem in

the days of Uzziah, 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

evildoers, 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 and 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 Sodom. "'Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah. "'What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?' says the Lord. "'I've had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. "'I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats. "'When you come to appear before me,, who has required of you this trampling of my

courts? Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and a

calling of convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in solemn assembly. Your new moons and your

appointed feasts. My soul hates. They have become a burden to me. I am weary

of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you make

many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean.

Remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. Cease to do evil do good seek justice correct oppression bring justice to the fatherless plead the widow's cause come now let us reason together says the lord though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and

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