Isaiah 66

1 The LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest?

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?

2 For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.

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.

3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.

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;

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”

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.

5 Hear the LORD’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed.

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.

6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that repays his enemies what they deserve.

The sound of a tumult—out of the city, A sound, out of the temple, —The sound of Yahweh rendering recompense to his foes.

7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son.

Before she travaileth, she hath brought forth, —Before her pains come to her, she hath given birth to a man-child!

8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.

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.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God.

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.

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

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:

11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”

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.

12 For the LORD says, “Behold, I will extend 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 her side, and will be dandled on her knees.

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:

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

As one whom, his mother, consoleth, So, will, I, console you, And in Jerusalem, shall ye be consoled.

14 You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. The LORD’s hand will be known amongst his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.

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!

15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

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.

16 For the LORD will execute judgement by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD will be many.

For, by fire, will Yahweh enter into judgment, And by his sword, with all flesh, —And many shall be the slain of Yahweh.

17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, following one in the middle, eating pig’s meat, abominable things, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says the LORD.

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.

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.

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.

19 “I will set a sign amongst them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory amongst the nations.

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.

20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the LORD’s house.

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.

21 Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

And of them also, will I take for priests—for Levites, saith Yahweh,

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,” says the LORD, “so your offspring and your name shall remain.

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.

23 It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before me,” says the LORD.

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.

24 “They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

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.