Isaiah 66

1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house ^{a66:1 i.e. a reconstructed Temple} that you would build for me, and where will my resting place be?ISV — Isaiah 66:1

2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But this is the one to whom I will look favorably: to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who ^{b66:2 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT lack who} trembles at ^{c66:2 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT use different Heb. prepositions} my message.ISV — Isaiah 66:2

3 “Whoever slaughters an ox is just like ^{d66:3 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack just like} one who kills a human being; whoever sacrifices a lamb is just like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is just like one who offers pig’s blood; and whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense is just like one who blesses an idol. Yes, these have chosen their own ways, and they take delight in their contaminated actions.ISV — Isaiah 66:3

4 Therefore ^{e66:4 Or So} I, too, will choose harsh treatment for them, and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no ^{f66:4 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read and no} one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen; but they did what I consider to be evil, and chose what doesn’t please me.”ISV — Isaiah 66:4

5 “Hear this message from the LORD, you who tremble at his words: ^{g66:5 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read his word} “Your own brothers who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said: ‘Let the LORD be glorified; he will see ^{h66:5 So 1QIsaa; MT reads so that we may see; LXX reads so that the name of the Lord may be glorified} your joy,’ yet it is they who will be put to shame.ISV — Isaiah 66:5

6 “Listen to that uproar in ^{i66:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read from} the city! Listen to that noise from the Temple! It is the sound of the LORD paying back retribution to his enemies!ISV — Isaiah 66:6

7 “Before she goes into labor she gives birth; before her pains come upon her she has delivered ^{j66:7 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read and she has delivered} a son.ISV — Isaiah 66:7

8 Who has ever heard of such a thing? And ^{k66:8 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack And} who ever sees ^{l66:8 So 1QIsaa. 1QIsab MT LXX read has seen} such things? Can a country be born in a single day, or can a nation be brought forth in a single moment? Yet no sooner was Zion in labor than she delivered her children.ISV — Isaiah 66:8

9 Am I to open the womb and not deliver?” asks ^{m66:9 Lit. says} the LORD. “And when I bring to delivery, am I to close ^{n66:9 So 1QIsaa (imperfect); 1QIsab MT (perfect)} the womb?” asks your God.ISV — Isaiah 66:9

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be happy for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in gladness, all you who mourn over her,ISV — Isaiah 66:10

11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her consoling breasts, and so that you may drink deeply and take delight from her glorious bosom.”ISV — Isaiah 66:11

12 This ^{o66:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read For this} is what the LORD says: “See, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; and you will nurse, and you ^{p66:12 1QIsaa feminine pl.; MT masculine pl.} will be carried on her hip, ^{q66:12 Or arm} and bounced upon her knees.ISV — Isaiah 66:12

13 Like a child whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.ISV — Isaiah 66:13

14 And when you look, your hearts will rejoice and your bodies will flourish like grass; and it will be made known that the LORD’s hand is with his servants, but his fury is with his enemies.ISV — Isaiah 66:14

15 “Take notice! The LORD will come with fire, and his chariot ^{r66:15 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read his chariots} will be ^{s66:15 1QIsaa MT LXX lack will be} like a whirlwind, to pay back his anger—yes, his anger!— ^{t66:15 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack yes, his anger!} in fury, and his menacing rebukes ^{u66:15 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read his rebuke} in flames of fire.ISV — Isaiah 66:15

16 For with fire and with his sword the LORD will proceed to judgment ^{v66:16 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read settle his claim} on all humanity, ^{w66:16 Lit. on the humanity; so 1QIsaa; MT reads on humanity} and those slain by the LORD will be many.”ISV — Isaiah 66:16

17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves, ^{x66:17 i.e. pagan sacred worship sites located in forested areas} following the one at the center of those who eat the meat of pigs, disgusting things, ^{y66:17 Or vermin} and rats, are all alike,” ^{z66:17 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read alike—they will meet their end together} says ^{aa66:17 So 1QIsaa; MT reads declares} the LORD.ISV — Isaiah 66:17

18 “But as for me, I know their actions and their thoughts. Come ^{bb66:18 So IQIsaa; MT LXX read I am about to come} and gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.ISV — Isaiah 66:18

19 “I will put up signs ^{cc66:19 So IQIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read a sign} among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations—to Tarshish, Libya, ^{dd66:19 Lit. Put} and Lydia, ^{ee66:19 Lit. Lud} (who draw the bow), ^{ff66:19 The Lydians were known for their skills at archery} to Tubal and Greece, ^{gg66:19 Lit. Javan} to the far off coastlands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. Then they will proclaim my glory among the nations.ISV — Isaiah 66:19

20 They will bring all—yes, all!— ^{hh66:20 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read bring all; LXX reads bring} of your kindred from all the nations to ^{ii66:20 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads upon} my holy mountain Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, and on mules—yes, even on mules!— ^{jj66:20 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX lack yes, even on mules!} and on camels,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelis bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the LORD’s house.ISV — Isaiah 66:20

21 Then I will also select some of them for myself ^{kk66:21 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT LXX lack for myself} as priests and as Levites,” ^{ll66:21 i.e. the ministry formerly held by the descendants of Levi} says the LORD.ISV — Isaiah 66:21

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I am about to make will endure before me,” says the LORD, “so will your descendants and your name endure.ISV — Isaiah 66:22

23 And from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, ^{mm66:23 So 1QIsaa 4QIsac; lit. to her Sabbath; MT reads to his Sabbath} all ^{nn66:23 Lit. the; so 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT LXX lack all} humanity will come to worship before me,” says the LORD.ISV — Isaiah 66:23

24 “Then they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will not die, nor will their fire be extinguished, and they will remain an object of revulsion to all ^{oo66:24 Lit. the; so 1QIsaa; 4QIsab MT LXX lack all} humanity.”ISV — Isaiah 66:24