IsaiahChapter 66

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¹This is what the LORD says:
"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house could you build for me?
Where could my resting place be? ²Did not my hand make all these things?
That is how they came to be," declares the LORD.
"This is the one I will look on with favor:
the one who is humble and broken in spirit,
who trembles at my word. ³Whoever kills an ox is like one who kills a man.
Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck.
Whoever brings a grain offering is like one who offers pig's blood.
Whoever burns frankincense is like one who blesses an idol.
Yes, they have chosen their own ways.
They delight in their disgusting practices. ⁴So I will choose their punishment.
I will bring terror on them.
For I called, and no one answered.
I spoke, and no one listened.
They did evil in my sight
and chose what I do not delight in." ⁵Hear the word of the LORD,
you who tremble at his word:
"Your brothers hate you
and push you out because of my name.
They have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified,
so we can see your joy!'
But they will be put to shame." ⁶Hear that uproar from the city!
Listen to that voice from the temple!
It is the voice of the LORD,
paying back his enemies what they deserve! ⁷"Before she went into labor, she gave birth.
Before her pain came, she had a son. ⁸Who has ever heard of such a thing?
Who has seen things like this?
Can a country be born in one day?
Can a nation be born in a moment?
Yet as soon as Zion went into labor,
she gave birth to her children. ⁹Would I bring a baby to the moment of birth
and not let it be born?" says the LORD.
"Or would I, who bring babies to birth, close up the womb?" says your God. ¹⁰Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her,
all you who love her.
Rejoice greatly with her,
all you who mourn over her. ¹¹Then you will nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts.
You will drink deeply
and delight in her rich and glorious plenty. ¹²For this is what the LORD says:
"I will send peace to her like a river.
I will send the wealth of nations like a flowing stream.
You will nurse and be carried on her arm.
You will be bounced on her knees. ¹³As a mother comforts her son,
so I will comfort you.
You will be comforted over Jerusalem." ¹⁴When you see this, you will rejoice.
You will grow strong like fresh grass.
Then the hand of the LORD will be shown to his servants.
But his anger will be shown to his enemies. ¹⁵For look, the LORD will come with fire.
His chariots are like a whirlwind.
He will pour out his anger with fury,
and his rebuke with flames of fire. ¹⁶For the LORD will judge all people
with fire and with his sword.
Many will be killed by the LORD. ¹⁷"Some make themselves holy and clean
to go into the sacred gardens.
They follow one who stands in the middle
of those who eat pig meat, rats, and other disgusting creatures.
They will all die together," declares the LORD. ¹⁸"I know their deeds and their thoughts.
I am coming to gather all nations and languages.
They will come and see my glory. ¹⁹I will set a sign among them.
I will send some who survive to the nations:
to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud,
to Tubal and Javan,
and to the far-off islands.
Those places have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.
So those I send will tell of my glory among the nations. ²⁰And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations
as a gift to the LORD.
They will come on horses, in chariots and wagons,
on mules and on camels,
to my holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD.
"It will be just like when the Israelites bring an offering
in a clean bowl to the house of the LORD." ²¹"And I will choose some of them to be priests and Levites," says the LORD. ²²"For the new heavens and the new earth that I will make
will last before me," declares the LORD.
"In the same way, your descendants and your name will last. ²³From one New Moon to the next,
and from one Sabbath to the next,
all people will come to worship before me," says the LORD. ²⁴"As they go out, they will see the dead bodies
of the men who rebelled against me.
For their worm will never die,
and their fire will never go out.
They will be a horror to all people."