Isaiah 66

1 This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, and what kind of place will be my resting place?

2 My hand made all these things, and all of them are mine, says the Lord. Whom will I regard except the humble, quiet person who trembles at my words?

3 But the lawless man who sacrifices a calf to me is like someone who kills a dog. The one who brings up fine flour is like someone who offers pig’s blood. The one who gives frankincense as a memorial is like a blasphemer. They chose their own paths, and their souls delighted in their detestable things.

4 I will choose mockeries for them and repay their sins, because I called them and they did not listen. I spoke and they did not hear. They did evil before me and chose what did not please me.

5 Listen to the Lord’s word, you who tremble at his word. Say, ‘Our brothers,’ to those who hate and detest us, so that the Lord’s name may receive glory and appear in their joy. But they will be ashamed.

6 A sound of crying comes from the city, a sound from the temple—the Lord’s voice repaying his adversaries.

7 Before the woman in labor gave birth, before labor pains came, she escaped them and bore a son.

8 Who heard of such a thing, and who saw anything like it? Did the earth labor in one day, or was a nation born all at once? For Zion labored and bore her children.

9 I raised this expectation, yet you did not remember me, says the Lord. Look, did I not make both the woman who gives birth and the barren woman? says God.

10 Rejoice, Jerusalem. All who love her, join her festive assembly. Rejoice greatly with her, all who now mourn over her,

11 so you may nurse and be satisfied at the breast of her comfort, drawing out milk and delighting yourselves in the abundance of her glory.

12 This is what the Lord says: Look, I turn toward them like a river of peace and like a torrent flooding them with the nations’ glory. Their children will be carried on shoulders and comforted on knees.

13 As a mother comforts someone, I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 You will see, your heart will rejoice, and your bones will flourish like grass. The Lord’s hand will be known to those who revere him, and he will threaten the disobedient.

15 Look, the Lord will come like fire and his chariots like a storm, to repay with wrath and rebuke with a flame of fire.

16 All the earth will be judged by the Lord’s fire and all humanity by his sword. Many will be wounded by the Lord.

17 Those who make themselves holy and purify themselves in gardens, then eat pig’s flesh, detestable things, and mice in the courtyards, will be consumed together, says the Lord.

18 I know their works and thoughts. I am coming to gather all nations and languages. They will come and see my glory.

19 I will leave a sign on them and send some of them who have been saved to the nations—to Tarshish, Phud, Lud, Mosoch, Thobel, Greece, and distant islands, to those who have neither heard my name nor seen my glory. They will announce my glory among the nations.

20 They will bring your brothers from all nations as a gift to the Lord, using horses, chariots, and covered litters drawn by mules, to the holy city Jerusalem, says the Lord. They will be like the children of Israel bringing their sacrifices with psalms into the Lord’s house.

21 I will choose priests and Levites from among them, says the Lord.

22 As the new heaven and new earth I am making remain before me, says the Lord, so your offspring and name will remain.

23 From month to month and Sabbath to Sabbath, all humanity will come to bow down before me in Jerusalem, says the Lord.

24 They will go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me. Their worm will not die, their fire will not be extinguished, and they will become a spectacle for all humanity.