Isaiah 66

1Thus says Yahweh: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house would you build for me, and what place would be my resting place?

2My hand made all these things, and so all these things came to be, declares Yahweh. But to this one I will look: to the poor and contrite in spirit, and the one who trembles at my word.

3The one who slaughters an ox is like one who strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; the one who offers a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; the one who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses wickedness. They too have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.

4So I also will choose harsh treatment for them, and I will bring their fears upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and they did not listen; they did what was evil in my eyes, and chose what I did not delight in.

5Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, “Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy”; but they will be put to shame.

6A sound of uproar from the city, a sound from the temple, the sound of Yahweh repaying recompense to his enemies.

7Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before pain came upon her, she delivered a son.

8Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen things like these? Can a land be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born all at once? For Zion was in labor and also gave birth to her children.

9Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to give birth? says Yahweh. Shall I, who cause to give birth, shut the womb? says your God.

10Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad in her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her.

11so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast, so that you may drink deeply and delight yourselves from the abundance of her glory.

12For thus says Yahweh: Behold, I am extending peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will nurse, you will be carried on the hip, and bounced on the knees.

13As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and in Jerusalem you will be comforted.

14You will see, and your heart will rejoice; your bones will flourish like the grass. The hand of Yahweh will be made known to his servants, and he will be indignant against his enemies.

15For look, Yahweh will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to repay his anger in fury and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16For by fire Yahweh will execute judgment, and by his sword, against all flesh; and many will be those slain by Yahweh.

17Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating the flesh of pigs and detestable things and mice, shall come to an end together, declares Yahweh.

18For I know their works and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all the nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory.

19And I will set a sign among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations—to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow; to Tubal and Javan; to the distant coastlands that have not heard my report and have not seen my glory—and they will declare my glory among the nations.

20And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to Yahweh, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, just as the sons of Israel bring the offering in a clean vessel to the house of Yahweh.

21And even from them I will take some for priests and for Levites, says Yahweh.

22For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making shall remain before me, declares Yahweh, so your offspring and your name shall remain.

23And it shall be, from new moon to its new moon and from Sabbath to its Sabbath, all flesh shall come to bow down before me, says Yahweh.

24And they will go out and look on the corpses of the men who rebelled against me. For their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and they will be an abhorrence to all flesh.