My long, slow working through Isaiah in Hebrew (with the help of numerous reference guides) is still progressing. Here is my translation of the first part of the "Great Arraignment" -
The vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz,
which he saw about Judah and Jerusalem
in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hear heavens, give ear earth, for the Lord has spoken -
Children have I taught and brought up
and they have revolted against me.
The ox has known its owner
and the donkey its master's feeding trough,
but Israel has not known,
my people have not understood.
Wo! a nation sinning, a people heavy with iniquity,
a seed doing evil, children corrupting,
they have forsaken the Lord,
despised the Holy One of Israel,
they have drawn back.
Will you be struck again?
You will increase rebellion.
The whole head is diseased,
the whole heart sick.
From the sole of the foot to the head
there is no soundness -
a wound, a bruise, an open sore,
not pressed closed, not bound up, not softened with ointment.
Your country is waste,
your cities burned by fire,
enemies consume your land before you -
Waste! as if overthrown of enemies.
The daughter of Zion is left
as a hut in a vineyard,
as a shack in a cucumber field,
as a city besieged.
If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a tiny remnant
we had been like Sodom,
we had become as Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the Lord,
leaders of Sodom,
give ear to the law of your God,
people of Gomorrah.
Why do I have a multitude of sacrifices?
asked the Lord,
I am satiated with offerings of rams,
and the fat of plump calves.
The blood of rams, and lambs and he-goats
has not pleased me.
When you will come to appear before my face,
who required this at your hands,
to walk my courts?
Do not add to the bringing of false offerings.
Incense, it is an abomination to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of convocations -
I cannot endure iniquity and assemblies.
And when they reach forth their hands,
I will turn my eyes from them.
And when they multiply prayers,
I do not listen -
their hands are filled with blood.
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