Old Testament Lesson

Isa. 1:10-20 (NRSV)

10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of
Gomorrah! 11What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt
offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 12When
you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; 13bringing
offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation- I
cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. 14Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. 15When you stretch out your hands, I will hide
my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do
evil, 17learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 18Come
now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are
red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the
land; 20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.