Isaiah 5:20

New International Reader's Version

How terrible it will be for those who say that what is evil is good! How terrible for those who say that what is good is evil! How terrible for those who say that darkness is light and light is darkness! How terrible for those who say that what is bitter is sweet and what is sweet is bitter!

Cross References

Job 17:12

turn night into day. Even though it’s dark, ‘Light is nearby.’

Exodus 23:7

Do not have anything to do with a false charge. Do not put to death people not guilty of doing anything wrong. I will not let guilty people go free.

Proverbs 17:15

The Lord hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren’t guilty are punished.

Proverbs 4:17

They do evil just as easily as they eat food. They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.

Isaiah 24:9

People will no longer sing as they drink wine. Beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.

Isaiah 29:21

Without any proof, they claim that a person is guilty. In court they try to trap the one who speaks up for others. By using dishonest witnesses they keep people who aren’t guilty from being treated fairly.

Isaiah 30:10

They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see any more visions!’ They say to the prophets, ‘Don’t give us any more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy things we want to hear even if they aren’t true.

Isaiah 32:5

Foolish people won’t be considered noble anymore. Those who are worthless won’t be highly respected.

Ezekiel 13:19

You have treated me as if I were not holy. You did it among my very own people. You did it for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You told lies to my people. They like to listen to lies. You killed those who should have lived. And you spared those who should have died.”

Amos 5:7

There are people among you who turn what is fair into something bitter. They throw down to the ground what is right.

Micah 3:2

But you hate what is good. And you love what is evil. You are like someone who tears the skin off my people. You pull the meat off their bones.

Habakkuk 1:4

The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do. Fairness never comes out on top. Sinful people surround those who do what is right. So people are never treated fairly.

Malachi 2:17

You have worn out the Lord by what you keep saying. “How have we worn him out?” you ask. You have done it by saying, “All those who do evil things are good in the Lord’s sight. And he is pleased with them.” Or you ask, “Is God really fair?”

Malachi 3:15

But now we call proud people blessed. Things go well with those who do what is evil. And God doesn’t even punish those who test him.’ ”

Luke 16:15

Jesus said to them, “You try to make yourselves look good in the eyes of other people. But God knows your hearts. What people think is worth a lot is hated by God.

Deuteronomy 25:1

Suppose two people don’t agree about something. Then they must take their case to court. The judges will decide the case. They will let the one who isn’t guilty go free. And they will punish the one who is guilty.

2 Peter 2:1

But there were also false prophets among the people. In the same way there will be false teachers among you. In secret they will bring in teachings that will destroy you. They will even turn against the Lord and Master who died to pay for their sins. So they will quickly destroy themselves.