Isaiah 1:23
21 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.
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.
24 Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
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
- 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.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
- ASV
- Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- DARBY
- thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth presents, and hunteth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, and the cause of the widow cometh not unto them.
- BLB
- Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves, everyone is loving a bribe and pursuing rewards. The fatherless they do not defend and the case [of] the widow does not come to them.
- ÅB
- dine førere er opprørere og tyvers stallbrødre; enhver av dem elsker bestikkelse og jager etter gaver; den farløse hjelper de ikke til hans rett, og enkens sak tar de seg ikke av.
- OTB
- Dine herskere er opprørere og kamerater av tyver; hver og en elsker bestikkelser og jager etter belønninger. De forsvarer ikke de farløse, og enkens sak kommer ikke for dem.
- B1930
- dine førere er oprørere og tyvers stallbrødre; enhver av dem elsker bestikkelse og jager efter gaver; den farløse hjelper de ikke til hans rett, og enkens sak tar de sig ikke av.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Micah 7:3
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Read in contextZechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’
Read in contextExodus 23:8
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
Read in contextLuke 18:2–5
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
Read in contextActs 4:5–11
The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
Read in contextIsaiah 10:1–2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees,
Read in contextLuke 19:46
He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Read in contextIsaiah 3:14
The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.
Read in context