THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

 

Isaiah Chapter 65

1 ¶ I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek me: I said, Look to me, look to me, to a nation that was not called by my name.

2 All day long I stretch out my hands to a rebellious people, who are living in a way that is not good, following their own thoughts;

3 A people who continually provoke me to my face; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick;

4 Who remain among the graves, and lodge in the tombs, who eat swine’s flesh, and a broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

5 Who say, Stay where you are, do not touch me; for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day long.

6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but will repay, yea, I will repay them fully,

7 For both your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers, says the LORD: because they have burned incense on the mountains, and insulted me upon the hills, I will reward them fully for what they have done.

8 ¶ Thus says the LORD, As juice is found in the cluster of grapes, and one says, Do not destroy it; for there is some good in it: that is what I will do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

9 I will bring forth a seed from Jacob, and from Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and my chosen will inherit it, and my servants will dwell there.

10 And Sharon will be a fold for flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me.

11 ¶ But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for the god of fortune, and furnish a drink offering for destiny.

12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and chose what did not please me.

13 And so the Lord GOD says this, 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 ashamed:

14 Behold, my servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart, and will howl for vexation of spirit.

15 And you will leave your name to my chosen for a curse: for the Lord GOD will slay you, but call his servants by another name:

16 The one who blesses himself in the land will bless himself by the God of truth; and whoever makes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and are hidden from my eyes.

17 ¶ For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former will not be remembered, or come into mind.

18 Rejoice and be glad forever in that which I create: for, behold, I will make Jerusalem a delight, and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people: and the sound of weeping, or wailing, will be no longer be heard in her.

20 You will no longer find a baby living only a few days, or an old man who does not live all his days: for one who dies being one hundred years old will be young; but the sinner who is one hundred years old will be accursed.

21 They will build houses, and live in them; and they will plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22 They will not build, to have another live in it; they will not plant, and have another eat: for the age of my people will be like the age of a tree, and my chosen will long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They will not labor in vain, or bring forth children for calamity; for they are the seed the LORD has blessed, and their children will be with them.

24 And it will come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox: but the serpent’s food will be dust. They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, says the LORD.