Isaiah 65
1 I let myself be sought by those who did not ask for me; I let myself be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.
2 All day long I held out my hands to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own thoughts.
3 They are a people who provoke me to my face continually, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks.
4 They sit among the graves and spend the night in hidden places; they eat pork, and their dishes hold broth made from detestable meats.
5 They say, “Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
6 It is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will repay them fully.
7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your ancestors together, says the LORD. They burned incense on the mountains and insulted me on the hills. I will measure out to them the full payment for what they did before.
8 This is what the LORD says: “When juice is found in a cluster of grapes, someone says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it.’ So I will act for the sake of my servants, and not destroy everything.
9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah an heir to my mountains. My chosen ones will possess the land, and my servants will live there.
10 Sharon will become pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who have sought me.”
11 But you have forsaken the LORD and forgotten my holy mountain; you set a table for Gad and fill a bowl of mixed wine for Meni.
12 I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer; I spoke and you did not listen. You did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not desire.
13 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
14 My servants will sing for joy in their hearts, but you will cry out in pain and wail with broken spirits.
15 You will leave your name as a curse for my chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will put you to death; but he will give his servants another name.”
16 Whoever blesses himself in the land will bless himself by the God of truth, and whoever swears an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth; for the former troubles have been forgotten and hidden from my eyes.
17 For I am creating new heavens and a new earth; the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am creating Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and the cry of distress will never again be heard in her.
20 Never again will there be an infant who lives only a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youngest will die at a hundred years old, and the sinner will be cursed at a hundred years old.
21 They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They will not build houses for someone else to live in, nor plant for someone else to eat; for my people’s days will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen ones will enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain or bear children for terror, for they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, and their descendants will be with them.
24 Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will not harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, says the LORD.
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