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15 When you spread out your hands,
    I will close my eyes to you;
Though you pray the more,
    I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood![a](A)
16     Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
    cease doing evil;
17     learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
    hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:15–16 Hands…blood: oppression of the poor is likened to violence that bloodies the hands, which explains why the hands spread out in prayer (v. 15) are not regarded by the Lord. This climax of the accusations is followed by positive admonitions for reversing the evil situation.

15 When you spread out your hands(A) in prayer,
    I hide(B) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.(C)

Your hands(D) are full of blood!(E)

16 Wash(F) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(G)
    stop doing wrong.(H)
17 Learn to do right;(I) seek justice.(J)
    Defend the oppressed.[a](K)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;(L)
    plead the case of the widow.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor