Isaiah 66
1 Thus, saith Yahweh, The, heavens, are my throne, and The earth, is my footstool: Where then is the house which ye can build me? Or where is my place of rest?
This is what Yahweh says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I may rest?
2 For, all these things, hath mine own hand made, And all these things came into being, —Declareth Yahweh. But for this one, will I look around, For him who is humbled and smitten in spirit, And so careth anxiously for my word.
My hand has made all these things; that is how these things came to be—this is Yahweh's declaration. This is the man of whom I approve, the broken and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my word.
3 He that slaughtereth an ox, [is as one] who smiteth a man, He that sacrificeth a lamb, [is as one] who beheadeth a dog, he that causeth a meal-offering to ascend, offereth it with the blood of swine, He that maketh a memorial of frankincense, [is as one] who blesseth iniquity: They indeed, have chosen their own ways, And in their own abominations, their soul hath found delight;
He who slaughters an ox also murders a man; he who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering offers swine's blood; he who offers a memorial of incense also blesses wickedness. They have chosen their own ways, and they take pleasure in their abominations.
4 I, also, will choose the things that vex them. And the things they dread, will I bring upon them, Because—I called and there was none to answer, I spake, and they hearkened not, —But did that which was wicked in mine eyes, And of that wherein I delighted not, made choice.
In the same way I will choose their own punishment; I will bring on them what they fear, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, no one listened. They did what was evil in my sight, and chose to do what displeases me.”
5 Hear the word of Yahweh, ye who care anxiously for his word: Said your brethren Who hated you. Who thrust you out for my Name’s sake, Yahweh be glorified! Therefore shall he appear to your rejoicing, But, they, shall turn pale.
Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word, “Your brothers who hate and exclude you for my name's sake have said, 'May Yahweh be glorified, then we will see your joy,' but they will be put to shame.
6 The sound of a tumult—out of the city, A sound, out of the temple, —The sound of Yahweh rendering recompense to his foes.
A sound of battle tumult comes from the city, a sound from the temple, the sound of Yahweh paying back his enemies.
7 Before she travaileth, she hath brought forth, —Before her pains come to her, she hath given birth to a man-child!
Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before pain is upon her, she gave birth to a son.
8 Who hath heard the like of this? Who hath seen the like of these things? Can a land, be made to bring forth in one day? Or a nation, be born, at one time? As soon as she travaileth, Zion hath also given birth to her children.
Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a land be born in one day? Can a nation be established in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor, she gives birth to her children.
9 Could, I, bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? saith Yahweh. Or, I, be causing to bring forth and then prevent? Saith thy God.
Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and not permit the child to be born?—asks Yahweh. Or do I bring a child to moment of delivery and then hold it back?—asks your God.”
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and exult over her All ye who love her, —Joy with her right joyfully, All ye who used to mourn over her:
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her, all you who mourned over her!
11 That ye may draw to satisfaction out of the fountain of her consolations, —That ye may drain out and get exquisite delight from the abundance of her glory.
For you will nurse and be satisfied; with her breasts you will be comforted; for you will drink them to the full and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For, thus, saith Yahweh, —Behold me! extending unto her like a river, prosperity, And as a torrent o’erflowing, the glory of the nations. That ye may draw it forth—Upon the side, shall ye be carried, and Upon the knees, shall ye be caressed:
This is what Yahweh says, “I am about to spread prosperity over her like a river, and the riches of the nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse at her side, be carried in her arms, and be dandled on her knees.
13 As one whom, his mother, consoleth, So, will, I, console you, And in Jerusalem, shall ye be consoled.
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 As soon as ye have seen it, your heart, shall be joyful, And your bones, like green herbage, shall thrive, —So shall be known The hand of Yahweh with his servants, But indignation with his foes!
You will see this, and your heart will rejoice, and your bones will sprout like the tender grass. The hand of Yahweh will be made known to his servants, but he will show his anger against his enemies.
15 For lo! Yahweh, with fire, doth come, And like a storm-wind, [are] his chariots, —To render with fury, his anger, And his rebuke with flames of fire.
For look, Yahweh is coming with fire, and his chariots are coming like the windstorm to bring the heat of his anger and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For, by fire, will Yahweh enter into judgment, And by his sword, with all flesh, —And many shall be the slain of Yahweh.
For Yahweh executes judgment on mankind by fire and with his sword. Those killed by Yahweh will be many.
17 They who hallow themselves and purify themselves for the gardens, Behind a certain thing in the midst, Who eat the flesh of swine and the abomination, and the mouse, Together, shall be cut off—Declareth Yahweh.
They consecrate themselves and make themselves pure, so they may enter the gardens, following the one in the middle of those who eat the flesh of pig and abominable things like mice. “They will come to an end—this is Yahweh's declaration.
18 Because, I, …for their works and their devices, doth it come! …Am about to gather together all nations and tongues, —So shall they come and see my glory.
For I know their deeds and their thoughts. The time is coming when I will gather all nations and languages. They will come and will see my glory.
19 Then will I set among them, a sign, And will send, of them such as have escaped unto the nations—Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the bow, Tubal and Javan, —The Coastlands that are afar off, Who have not heard my fame Nor seen my glory, And they shall tell my glory throughout the nations.
I will set a mighty sign among them. Then I will send survivors from them to the nations: To Tarshish, Put, and Lud, archers who draw their bows, to Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands where they have not heard about me nor seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.
20 Then shall they bring in all your brethren out of all the nations, As a present unto Yahweh, Upon horses and in chariots and in palanquins and on mules and on dromedaries Unto my holy mountain—Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, —Just as the sons of Israel, bring in their present in a pure vessel, into the house, of Yahweh.
They will bring back all your brothers out of all the nations, as an offering to Yahweh. They will come on horses, and in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem—says Yahweh. For the people of Israel will bring a grain offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.
21 And of them also, will I take for priests—for Levites, saith Yahweh,
Some of these I will even choose as priests and Levites—says Yahweh.
22 For, as the new heavens and the new earth, which I am about to make, are to remain before me, Declareth Yahweh, So, shall remain your seed and your name.
For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I will make will remain before me—this is Yahweh's declaration—so your descendants will remain, and your name will remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that From one new moon to another, and From one sabbath to another, Shall all flesh, come in, to bow down before me, Saith Yahweh.
From one month to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to bow down to me—says Yahweh.
24 Then shall they go forth and look upon the dead bodies of the men who had been trespassing against me—For, their worm, shall not die, And, their fire, shall not be quenched; So shall they become an abhorrence to all flesh.
They will go out and see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me, for the worms that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not be quenched; and it will be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
