Isaiah 1:21

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.

²⁰ But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!

²² Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.

²³ Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
KJV: How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
WEB: How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice. Righteousness lodged in her, but now there are murderers.
ASV: How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
DARBY: How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness used to lodge in it, but now murderers.
BLB: How the faithful city has become like a prostitute! [She was] full of justice, righteousness lodged with her—and now murderers [are there]!

ÅB: Hvor den er blitt til en horkvinne, den trofaste by, som var full av rett, hvor rettferd hadde hjemme, og nå - mordere!
OTB: Hvordan har den trofaste byen blitt utro! Hun som var full av rettferdighet! Rettferd bodde en gang i henne, men nå mordere.
B1930: Hvor den er blitt til en horkvinne, den trofaste by, som var full av rett, hvor rettferd hadde hjemme, og nu - mordere!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Zechariah 8:3
This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:1–3
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:1–23
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Read in context
Isaiah 48:2
who indeed call yourselves after the holy city and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of Hosts is His name.
Read in context
Micah 3:2–3
You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones.
Read in context
Hebrews 12:22
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:1
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers— and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Read in context