The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Isaiah 66
1 Yahweh says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my
footstool. What kind of house will you build to
me? Where will I rest?
2 For my hand has made all these things,
and so all these things came to be,”
says Yahweh: “but I will look to this man,
even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and who trembles at my word.
3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a
man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who
breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who
offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who
blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions,
and will bring their fears on them,
because when I called, no one answered;
when I spoke, they didn’t listen,
buttheydidthat which was evilinmy eyes,
and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”
5 Hear Yahweh’s word, you who tremble at his word:
“Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake,
have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy;’
but it is those who shall be disappointed.
6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple,
a voice of Yahweh that repays his enemies what they deserve.
7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth.
Before her pain came, she delivered a son.
8 Who has heard of such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion travailed,
she gave birth to her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to
be delivered?” says Yahweh.
“Shall I who cause to give birth shut
the womb?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for
her, all you who love her.
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who
mourn over her;
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at
the comforting breasts;
that you may drink deeply,
and be delighted with the abundance
of her glory.
12 For Yahweh says, “Behold, I will extend
peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an
overflowing stream, and you will nurse.
You will be carried on her side,
and will be dandled on her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you. You will
be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your bones will flourish like the
tender grass. Yahweh’s hand will be known among his
servants; and he will have indignation against
his enemies.
15 For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire,
and his chariots will be like the whirlwind;
to render his anger with fierceness,
and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For Yahweh will execute judgment by
fire and by his sword on all flesh;
and those slain by Yahweh will be
many.
17 “Those who sanctify themselves and
purify themselves to go to the gardens,
following one in the middle, eating pig’s
meat, abominable things, and the mouse,
they shall come to an end together,” says
Yahweh.
18 “For I know their works and their
thoughts. The time comes thatI will gather
all nations and languages, and they will
come, and will see my glory.
19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will
send those who escape of them to the nations,
to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw
the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away
islands, who have not heard my fame, nor
have seen my glory; and they shall declare
my glory among the nations.
20 They shall bring all your brothers out
of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh,
on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules,
and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem,
says Yahweh, as the childrenofIsraelbring
their offering ina clean vessel into Yahweh's house.
21 Of them I will also select priests and
Levites, ” says Yahweh.
22 “For as the new heavens and the new
earth, which I will make, shall remain before
me,” says Yahweh, “so your offspring
and your name shall remain.
23 It shall happen that from one new
moon to another, and from one Sabbath
to another, all flesh will come to worship
before me, ” says Yahweh.
24 “They will go out, and look at the dead
bodies of the men who have transgressed
against me;for their worm willnot die, nor
will their fire be quenched, and they will
be loathsome to all mankind.