Bible in Basic English
Your silver is no longer true metal, your wine is mixed with water.
Your chiefs have gone against the Lord, they have become friends of thieves; every one of them is looking for profit and going after rewards; they do not give right decisions for the child who has no father, and they do not let the cause of the widow come before them.
For this reason the Lord, the Lord of armies, the Strong One of Israel, has said, I will put an end to my haters, and send punishment on those who are against me;
And my hand will again be on you, washing away what is unclean as with soap, and taking away all your false metal;
And I will give you judges again as at the first, and wise guides as in the past; then you will be named, The Town of Righteousness, the true town.
Upright acts will be the price of Zion's forgiveness, and by righteousness will men be living there.
But a common destruction will overtake sinners and evil-doers together, and those who have gone away from the Lord will be cut off.
For you will be put to shame because of the trees of your desire, and because of the gardens of your pleasure.
For you will be like a tree whose leaves have become dry, and like a garden without water.
And the strong will be as food for the fire, and his work as a flame; and they will be burned together, with no one to put out the fire.
— Isaiah 1:22-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They don't judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them. Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: "Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself of my enemies; and I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin. 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, a faithful town.' Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and those who forsake Yahweh shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you shall be confounded for the gardens that you have chosen. For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them."”
“Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow. Therefore, the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the Powerful One of Israel, says this:“Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies. I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag. I will reestablish honest judges as in former times, wise advisers as in earlier days. Then you will be called,‘The Just City, Faithful Town.’” Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness. All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish. Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship. For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered. The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.”
If you will give ear to my word and do it, the good things of the land will be yours;
But if your hearts are turned against me, I will send destruction on you by the sword; so the Lord has said.
The upright town has become untrue; there was a time when her judges gave right decisions, when righteousness had a resting-place in her, but now she is full of those who take men's lives.
Your silver is no longer true metal, your wine is mixed with water.
Your chiefs have gone against the Lord, they have become friends of thieves; every one of them is looking for profit and going after rewards; they do not give right decisions for the child who has no father, and they do not let the cause of the widow come before them.
For this reason the Lord, the Lord of armies, the Strong One of Israel, has said, I will put an end to my haters, and send punishment on those who are against me;
And my hand will again be on you, washing away what is unclean as with soap, and taking away all your false metal;
And I will give you judges again as at the first, and wise guides as in the past; then you will be named, The Town of Righteousness, the true town.
Upright acts will be the price of Zion's forgiveness, and by righteousness will men be living there.
But a common destruction will overtake sinners and evil-doers together, and those who have gone away from the Lord will be cut off.
For you will be put to shame because of the trees of your desire, and because of the gardens of your pleasure.
For you will be like a tree whose leaves have become dry, and like a garden without water.
And the strong will be as food for the fire, and his work as a flame; and they will be burned together, with no one to put out the fire.