18  “Come now, let us reason¹ together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as ^ywhite as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

19  ^zIf you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

20  but ^aif you refuse and rebel,

you shall be eaten by the sword;

^bfor the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

21  How the faithful city

has become a ^cwhore,²

she who was full of justice!

Righteousness lodged in her,

but now murderers.

22  Your silver has become ^ddross,

your best wine mixed with water.

23  ^eYour princes are rebels

and companions of thieves.

Everyone loves a bribe

and runs after gifts.

They do not bring justice to the fatherless,

and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

24  Therefore the Lord declares,

the Lord of hosts,

^fthe Mighty One of Israel:

“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies

and avenge myself on my foes.

25  I will turn my hand against you

and will smelt away your dross as with lye

and remove all your alloy.

26  And I will restore your judges as at the first,

and your counselors as at the beginning.

Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,

the faithful city.”

27  Zion shall be redeemed by justice,

and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

28  But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,

and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

29  For they³ shall be ashamed of the ^goaks

that you desired;

and you shall blush for the ^hgardens

that you have chosen.

30  For you shall be like an oak

whose leaf withers,

and like a garden without water.

31  And the strong shall become tinder,

and his work a spark,

and both of them shall burn together,

with none to quench them.