From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness or health in the nation’s body—but wounds and bruises and fresh and bleeding stripes; they have not been pressed out and closed up or bound up or softened with oil. No one has troubled to seek a remedy.
Because of your detestable disobedience your country lies desolate, your cities are burned with fire; your land—strangers devour it in your very presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by aliens.
And the Daughter of Tsiyon Yerushalayim is left like a deserted booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city spared, but in the midst of desolation.
Except our Creator Yahuweh of hosts had left us a very small remnant of survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and we should have been like Gomorrah.
Hear O Yerushalayim the word of our Creator Yahuweh, you rulers or judges of another Sodom; give ear to the Torah of our Elohim, you people of another Gomorrah!
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me unless they are the offering of the heart? says our Creator Yahuweh. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts without obedience; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of he-goats without righteousness.
When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you that your unrighteous feet trample My courts? Bring no more offerings of vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility); your hollow offering of incense is an abomination to Me; the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure—it is iniquity and profanation, even the solemn meeting.
Your New Moon festivals and your hypocritical appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread forth your hands in prayer, imploring help, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood!
