Isaiah 1:21

¹⁹ If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

²⁰ But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

²² Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

²³ Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto 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
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
Read in context
Zephaniah 3:1–3
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:1–23
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Read in context
Isaiah 48:2
For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.
Read in context
Micah 3:2–3
Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
Read in context
Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:1
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Read in context