Isaiah 66

1This is what Yahweh says: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you would build for me? Where is the place of my rest?

2My hand made all these things, and so all these things came to be, declares Yahweh. But this is the one I look to: the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.

3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever burns frankincense as a memorial, like one who blesses an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their detestable things.

4So I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring on them what they dread, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not listen. They did what is evil in my sight and chose what I did not delight in.

5Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word: Your own kindred who hate you and cast you out for my name’s sake have said, “Let Yahweh be glorified, so that we may see your joy!” But they will be put to shame.

6Listen, an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! It is the voice of Yahweh, repaying his enemies what they deserve.

7Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came upon her, she delivered a son.

8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth in a single moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

9Do I bring to the moment of birth and not let the child be born? says Yahweh. Do I, who cause birth, shut the womb? says your God.

10Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her,

11so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts, so that you may drink deeply and delight in her overflowing glory.

12For this is what Yahweh says: See, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse and be carried on her hip and bounced on her knees.

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

14You will see this, and your heart will rejoice; your bones will flourish like new grass. The hand of Yahweh will be made known to his servants, but his indignation to his enemies.

15For see, Yahweh will come in fire, and his chariots like a whirlwind, to pay back his anger in fury and his rebuke in flames of fire.

16For by fire Yahweh will execute judgment, and by his sword, on all people; and those slain by Yahweh will be many.

17Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the center, who eat the flesh of pigs, detestable things, and mice, will come to an end together, declares Yahweh.

18For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they will come and see my glory.

19I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will declare my glory among the nations.

20They will bring all your kindred from all the nations as an offering to Yahweh, on horses and in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of Yahweh.

21And I will also take some of them to be priests and Levites, says Yahweh.

22For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will endure before me, declares Yahweh, so your offspring and your name will endure.

23From one new moon to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to bow down before me, says Yahweh.

24And they will go out and look on the corpses of those who rebelled against me; for their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and they will be a horror to all people.