Isaiah 1:23

²¹ 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:

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.

²⁴ Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

²⁵ And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

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
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
Read in context
Zechariah 7:10
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Read in context
Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Read in context
Luke 18:2–5
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Read in context
Acts 4:5–11
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
Read in context
Isaiah 10:1–2
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
Read in context
Luke 19:46
Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Read in context
Isaiah 3:14
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
Read in context