Isaiah 1:23

New International Reader's Version

Your rulers refuse to obey the Lord. They join forces with robbers. All of them love to accept money from those who want special favors. They are always looking for gifts from other people. They don’t stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. They don’t do it for widows either.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 36:14

And that’s not all. The people and all the leaders of the priests became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the practices of the nations. The Lord hated those practices. The people and leaders made the Lord’s temple “unclean.” The Lord had set the temple in Jerusalem apart in a special way for himself.

Exodus 23:8

“Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of good people.

Proverbs 17:23

Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret. Then they turn what is right into what is wrong.

Proverbs 29:24

To help a thief is to become your own enemy. When you go to court, you won’t dare to say anything.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do what is right! Treat people fairly. Help those who are treated badly. Stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. And do the same thing for widows.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come. Let us settle this matter,” says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.

Isaiah 1:22

Jerusalem, your silver isn’t pure anymore. Your best wine has been made weak with water.

Isaiah 28:14

Listen to the Lord’s message, you who make fun of the truth. Listen, you who rule over these people in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 3:14

He judges the elders and leaders of his people. He says to them, “My people are like a vineyard. You have destroyed them. The things you have taken from poor people are in your houses.

Isaiah 30:1

“How terrible it will be for these stubborn children of mine!” announces the Lord. “How terrible for those who carry out plans that did not come from me! Their agreement with Egypt did not come from my Spirit. So they pile up one sin on top of another.

Isaiah 33:15

People must do what is right. They must be honest and tell the truth. They must not get rich by cheating others. Their hands must not receive money from those who want special favors. They must not let their ears listen to plans to commit murder. They must close their eyes to even thinking about doing what is evil.

Isaiah 5:23

How terrible for those who take money to set guilty people free! How terrible for those who don’t treat good people fairly!

Isaiah 65:2

All day long I have held out my hands to welcome a stubborn nation. They lead sinful lives. They go where their evil thoughts take them.

Jeremiah 22:17

“Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”

Jeremiah 32:32

The people of Israel and Judah have made me very angry. They have done many evil things. They, their kings and officials have sinned. So have their priests and prophets. And the people of Judah and Jerusalem have also sinned.

Jeremiah 4:17

It will surround them like people who guard a field. Judah has refused to obey me,’ ” announces the Lord.

Jeremiah 5:5

So I will go to the leaders. I’ll speak to them. They should know how the Lord wants them to live. They must know what their God requires of them.” But all of them had broken off the yoke the Lord had put on them. They had torn off the ropes he had tied them up with.

Jeremiah 5:6

So a lion from the forest will attack them. A wolf from the desert will destroy them. A leopard will hide and wait near their towns. It will tear to pieces anyone who dares to go out. Again and again they have refused to obey the Lord. They have turned away from him many times.

Ezekiel 12:2

“Son of man, you are living among people who refuse to obey me. They have eyes that can see. But they do not really see. They have ears that can hear. But they do not really hear. They refuse to obey me.

Ezekiel 22:27

The officials in the land are like wolves that tear their food apart. They spill blood and kill people to get rich.

Hosea 4:18

They continue to be unfaithful to me even when their drinks are gone. And their rulers love to do shameful things.

Hosea 5:10

Judah’s leaders have stolen some land. They have moved their borders farther north. So I will pour out my anger on them like a flood of water.

Hosea 9:15

The Lord says, “My people did many evil things in Gilgal. That is why I hated them there. They committed many sins. So I will drive them out of my land. I will not love them anymore. All their leaders refuse to obey me.

Amos 5:12

I know how many crimes you have committed. You have sinned far too much. Among you are people who crush those who have done no wrong. They accept money from people who want special favors. They take away the rights of poor people in the courts.

Micah 3:11

Your judges take money from people who want special favors. Your priests teach only if they get paid for it. Your prophets won’t tell fortunes unless they receive money. But you still look for the Lord’s help. You say, “The Lord is with us. No trouble will come on us.”

Micah 3:9

Listen to me, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You hate to do what is fair. You twist everything that is right.

Micah 6:12

The rich people among you harm others. You are always telling lies. You try to fool others by what you say.

Micah 7:3

They are very good at doing what is evil. Rulers require gifts. Judges accept money from people who want special favors. Those who are powerful always get what they want. All of them make evil plans together.

Zechariah 7:10

Do not take advantage of widows. Do not mistreat children whose fathers have died. Do not be mean to outsiders or poor people. Do not make evil plans against one another.”

Malachi 3:5

“So I will come and put you on trial. I will be quick to bring charges against all of you,” says the Lord who rules over all. “I will bring charges against you sinful people who do not have any respect for me. That includes those who practice evil magic. It includes those who commit adultery and those who tell lies in court. It includes those who cheat workers out of their pay. It includes those who treat widows badly. It also includes those who mistreat children whose fathers have died. And it includes those who take away the rights of outsiders in the courts.

Numbers 22:7

The elders of Moab and Midian left. They took with them the money they knew Balaam would ask for. They wanted him to use evil magic to figure things out for them. They came to where Balaam was. And they told him what Balak had said.

Matthew 21:13

He said to them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you are making it ‘a den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11)

Mark 11:17

Then he taught them. He told them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11)

Luke 19:46

He told them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be a house where people can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11)

Luke 24:27

Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures. He began with Moses and all the Prophets.

Deuteronomy 16:19

Do what is right. Treat everyone the same. Don’t take money from people who want special favors. It makes those who are wise close their eyes to the truth. It twists the words of those who have done nothing wrong.

James 1:27

Here are the beliefs and way of life that God our Father accepts as pure and without fault. When widows are in trouble, take care of them. Do the same for children who have no parents. And don’t let the world make you impure.

1 Samuel 8:3

But his sons didn’t live as he did. They were only interested in making money. They accepted money from people who wanted special favors. They made things that were wrong appear to be right.