The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 27: Isaias

THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS

This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, the great prophet,
(Ecclesiasticus:48.25,) from the greatness of his prophetic spirit, by
which he hath foretold so long before, and in so clear a manner, the
coming of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption, the calling of the
Gentiles, and the glorious establishment, and perpetual flourishing of
the church of Christ: insomuch that he may seem to have been rather an
evangelist than a prophet. His very name is not without mystery; for
Isaias in Hebrew signifies the salvation of the Lord, or Jesus is the
Lord. He was, according to the tradition of the Hebrews, of the blood
royal of the kings of Juda: and after a most holy life, ended his days
by a glorious martyrdom; being sawed in two, at the command of his
wicked son in law, King Manasses, for reproving his evil ways.

Isaias Chapter 1

The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem, and exhorts
them to a sincere conversion.

1:1. The vision of Isaias the Son of Amos, which he saw concerning Juda
and Jerusalem in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings
of Juda.

1:2. Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath
spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have
despised me.

1:3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel
hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.

1:4. Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked
seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have
blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards.

1:5. For what shall I strike you any more, you that increase
transgression? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad.

1:6. From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no
soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores: they are not
bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oil.

1:7. Your land is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your
country strangers devour before your face, and it shall be desolate as
when wasted by enemies.

1:8. And the daughter of Sion shall be left as a covert in a vineyard,
and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a city that is laid
waste.

1:9. Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been as Sodom,
and we should have been like to Gomorrha.

1:10. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law
of our God, ye people of Gomorrha.

1:11. To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims,
saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of
fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats.

1:12. When you came to appear before me, who required these things at
your hands, that you should walk in my courts?

1:13. Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me.
The new moons, and the sabbaths and other festivals I will not abide,
your assemblies are wicked.

1:14. My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are
become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them.

1:15. And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes
from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands
are full of blood.

1:16. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from
my eyes, cease to do perversely,

1:17. Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for
the fatherless, defend the widow.

1:18. And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as
crimson, they shall be white as wool.

1:19. If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good
things of the land.

1:20. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword shall
devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

1:21. How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a
harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers.

1:22. Thy silver is turned into dross: thy wine is mingled with water.

1:23. Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love
bribes, they run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and
the widow's cause cometh not in to them.

1:24. Therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts, the mighty one of
Israel: Ah! I will comfort myself over my adversaries: and I will be
revenged of my enemies.

1:25. And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy
dross, and I will take away all thy tin.

1:26. And I will restore thy judges as they were before, and thy
counsellors as of o