# Isaiah 1.19-20 **Book:** [Isaiah](/codex/isaiah-the-prophet/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 17. learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. > > **19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20. but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.** > > 21. How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. (Isaiah 1:17-22, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 17. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.” 18. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. > > **19. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20. but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.”** > > 21. How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. (Isaiah 1:17-22, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 17. Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. relieve: or, righten 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. > > **19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.** > > 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: (Isaiah 1:17-22, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 17. Seek judgment, make happy the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, strive [for] the widow. 18. Come, I pray you, and we reason, saith Jehovah, If your sins are as scarlet, as snow they shall be white, If they are red as crimson, as wool they shall be! > > **19. If ye are willing, and have hearkened, The good of the land ye consume, 20. And if ye refuse, and have rebelled, [By] the sword ye are consumed, For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.** > > 21. How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it, now murderers. 22. Thy silver hath become dross, Thy drink polluted with water. (Isaiah 1:17-22, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Isaiah son of Amoz (traditional unity) + LORD direct discourse - **Audience:** Judah under Uzziah/Jotham/Ahaz/Hezekiah + exilic remnant - **Location:** Jerusalem and Judah - **Time period:** ministry c. 740-680 BC ## Theological reading ## Key words - [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), *YHWH* (Strong's H3068). Also appears in: [Genesis 2.4](/codex/genesis-2-4/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/), [Genesis 2.16-17](/codex/genesis-2-16-17/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Lexicon:** - [H1285 - berith](/codex/h1285-berith/), via [Isaiah 1.2-20](/codex/isaiah-1-2-20/)