Isaiah 66

1 Thus saith יהוה: “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; where is the house that you build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest?

2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been,” saith יהוה; “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.

3 “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear; but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.”

5 Hear the word of יהוה, you that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let יהוה be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they shall be put to shame.”

6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of יהוה who rendereth recompence to His enemies.

7 “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion (Tsiyon) travailed, she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?” saith יהוה. “Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?” saith your God (Elohim).

10 Rejoice you with Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), and be glad with her, all you that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her;

11 That you may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”

12 For thus saith יהוה: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream; then shall you suck, you shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Yerushalayim.”

14 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb; and the hand of יהוה shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.

15 For, behold, יהוה will come with fire,

and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For by fire and by His sword will יהוה plead with all flesh; and the slain of יהוה shall be many.

17 “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together,” saith יהוה.

18 For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory.

19 “And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Yawan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the nations.

20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto יהוה out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to My holy mountain Jerusalem (Yerushalayim),” saith יהוה, “as the children of Yisrael bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of יהוה.

21 And I will also take of them for priests (kohanim) and for Levites (Lewiyim),” saith יהוה.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me,” saith יהוה, “So shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one New Moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me,” saith יהוה.

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”