Isaiæ 65
1 Quaesierunt me qui ante non interrogabant, invenerunt qui non quaesierunt me. dixi: Ecce ego, ecce ego ad Gentem, quae non invocabat nomen meum.
I let myself be consulted by people who weren't even asking me questions; I let myself be found by people who weren't even looking for me. To a nation that wasn't even calling for me, I said, “I'm here, I'm here!”
2 Expandi manus meas tota die ad populum incredulum, qui graditur in via non bona post cogitationes suas.
I spread out my hands all day long, pleading with a stubborn people who follow bad ways, doing whatever they choose.
3 Populus qui ad iracundiam provocat me ante faciem meam semper: qui immolant in hortis, et sacrificant super lateres:
These people are always making me angry, because they present sacrifices to idols in their sacred gardens, and offer incense on pagan altars made of brick.
4 qui habitant in sepulchris, et in delubris idolorum dormiunt: qui comedunt carnem suillam, et ius profanum in vasis eorum.
They spend the night among the graves and in caves, eating pork and cooking other unclean meats.
5 Qui dicunt: Recede a me, non appropinques mihi, quia immundus es: isti fumus erunt in furore meo, ignis ardens tota die.
They tell others, “Keep your distance! Don't come close to me as I'm too holy to be touched by you!” These people are like smoke in my nostrils, a stink burning all day long!
6 Ecce scriptum est coram me: non tacebo, sed reddam et retribuam in sinu eorum
Look—it's all written down right in front of me! I'm not going to keep quiet. I'm going to pay them back by throwing their punishment into their laps.
7 iniquitates vestras, et iniquitates patrum vestrorum simul, dicit Dominus, qui sacrificaverunt super montes, et super colles exprobraverunt mihi, et remetiar opus eorum primum in sinu eorum.
I'm going to pay you back for both your own sins and the sins of your forefathers, says the Lord, because they burned incense on the mountains and ridiculed me on the hills. I'm going to measure into their laps full payment for what they've done.
8 Haec dicit Dominus: Quomodo si inveniatur granum in botro, et dicatur: Ne dissipes illud, quoniam benedictio est: sic faciam propter servos meos, ut non disperdam totum.
This is what the Lord says: It's like when there's a bit of juice left in a bunch of grapes and people say, “Don't get rid of it all; there's still some good in it,” I'll do the same for my servants—I won't destroy them all.
9 Et educam de Iacob semen, et de Iuda possidentem montes meos: et hereditabunt eam electi mei, et servi mei habitabunt ibi.
I will make sure Jacob has descendants, and people from Judah who can take ownership of my mountain. My chosen ones, my servants, will own the land and live there.
10 Et erunt campestria in caulas gregum, et vallis Achor in cubile armentorum populo meo qui requisierunt me.
Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to rest, for my people who follow me.
11 Et vos, qui dereliquistis Dominum, qui obliti estis montem sanctum meum, qui ponitis Fortunae mensam, et libatis super eam.
But those of you who desert the Lord and forget about my holy mountain, who prepare feasts for the god of good luck, who fill jugs of mixed wine for the god of destiny,
12 Numerabo vos in gladio, et omnes in caede corruetis: pro eo quod vocavi, et non respondistis: locutus sum, et non audistis: et faciebatis malum in oculis meis, et quae nolui, elegistis.
I will make sure your destiny is to be killed by the sword. All of you will bow down to be slaughtered, because I called out to you but you didn't answer; I spoke to you, but you didn't listen. Instead you did what's evil in my sight, choosing to do what I hate.
13 Propter hoc haec dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce servi mei comedent, et vos esurietis: ecce servi mei bibent, et vos sitietis:
So this is what the Lord says, My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will celebrate, but you will feel ashamed.
14 Ecce servi mei laetabuntur, et vos confundemini: Ecce servi mei laudabunt prae exultatione cordis, et vos clamabitis prae dolore cordis, et prae contritione spiritus ululabitis.
Listen! My servants will shout because they're so happy inside, but you will cry out in deepest pain, howling because your spirit is broken.
15 Et dimittetis nomen vestrum in iuramentum electis meis: et interficiet te Dominus Deus, et servos suos vocabit nomine alio.
Your name will only be used as a curse by my chosen ones, for the Lord God will kill you and give his servants another name.
16 In quo qui benedictus est super terram, benedicetur in Deo amen: et qui iurat in terra, iurabit in Deo amen: quia oblivioni traditae sunt angustiae priores, et quia absconditae sunt ab oculis nostris.
Whoever asks a blessing or takes an oath in the land will do so by the one true God, for I have forgotten the troubles of the past—I don't look on them anymore.
17 Ecce enim ego creo caelos novos, et terram novam: et non erunt in memoria priora, et non ascendent super cor.
Look! I'm going to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things won't be remembered—they won't cross anyone's mind!
18 Sed gaudebitis et exultabitis usque in sempiternum in his, quae ego creo: quia ecce ego creo Ierusalem exultationem, et populum eius gaudium.
Be glad, and be happy forever and ever in what I'm going to create, for I will make Jerusalem a delightful place, and its people a real joy.
19 Et exultabo in Ierusalem, et gaudebo in populo meo: et non audietur in eo ultra vox fletus et vox clamoris.
I will be so happy over Jerusalem; I will celebrate among my people. The sound of weeping and cries for help won't ever be heard there again.
20 Non erit ibi amplius infans dierum, et senex qui non impleat dies suos: quoniam puer centum annorum morietur, et peccator centum annorum maledictus erit.
No babies will die after just a few days, and no adults will die without having lived a long life. Those who reach a hundred will be thought of as just a child, and anyone who doesn't reach a hundred will be seen as being under a curse.
21 Et aedificabunt domos, et habitabunt: et plantabunt vineas, et comedent fructus earum.
They will build houses and live in them; they will eat the fruit of the vineyards they themselves planted.
22 Non aedificabunt, et alius habitabit: non plantabunt, et alius comedet: secundum enim dies ligni, erunt dies populi mei, et opera manuum eorum inveterabunt:
No longer will they build houses for others to live in; no longer will they plant for others to eat. For my people will live as long as trees do; my chosen ones will live long enough to enjoy all they've worked for.
23 electi mei non laborabunt frustra, neque generabunt in conturbatione: quia semen benedictorum Domini est, et nepotes eorum cum eis.
They won't work for nothing, and they won't have children destined for disaster. For they are people living under the blessing of the Lord, and their children will be too.
24 Eritque antequam clament, ego exaudiam: adhuc illis loquentibus, ego audiam.
I will reply even before they ask me. While they are still speaking, I will answer them!
25 Lupus et agnus pascentur simul, leo et bos comedent paleas: et serpenti pulvis panis eius: non nocebunt, neque occident in omni monte sancto meo, dicit Dominus.
The wolf and the lamb will eat together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. The snakes will eat dust. Nothing will cause any harm or damage anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord in the same way that water fills the sea.
