Old Testament · Prophets

Isaiah chapter 65

I let myself be found by people who weren’t even looking for me. I to those who never asked for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a that didn’t call on my name.All day long I to a people, who walk down a path that leads nowhere good — chasing their own ideas.A people who constantly — right to my face — offering sacrifices in and burning incense on ,, spending the night in hidden places, eating , with broth from unclean things in their bowls.who say, ‘Keep your distance, don’t come near me, because I’m .’ These people are , a fire that burns all day long.Look — it’s : I will not keep silent. I will . I will pay them back in full —for your and your ancestors’ wrongs together, says Yahweh — because they and mocked me on the hills, I will measure out their full payment first.This is what Yahweh says: When there’s still in the grape cluster, someone says, ‘Don’t destroy it — there’s something good in it.’ That’s what I’ll do for the sake of : I won’t destroy everyone.I will bring descendants from Jacob, and from Judah — people who will inherit . My will possess the land, and those who serve me will live there.The plain will become pasture for flocks, and the a resting place for herds — for my people who have looked for me.But you who abandon Yahweh, who forget , who set a table for and pour out mixed wine for ,I will you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered. Because I called and you didn’t answer. I spoke and you didn’t listen. You did what I consider wrong and chose what I take no pleasure in.So this is what , says: Look — those who serve me will eat, but you will go hungry. Those who serve me will drink, but you will go thirsty. Those who serve me will celebrate, but you will be put to shame.Those who serve me will shout out of , but you will cry out from heartbreak, wailing from a .You will leave behind your as a curse word for my chosen ones. Yahweh, the Lord, will put you to death — but he will give his servants .So whoever asks for good things in the land will ask by , and whoever makes a promise in the land will swear by the God of truth. Because the old troubles will be forgotten — hidden from my sight.Because look — I am . The former things won’t be remembered; they won’t even cross your mind.Instead, be glad and celebrate forever in what I am creating. Because look — I am creating as a , and her people as a .I will over Jerusalem and in my people. The sound of will never be heard in her again.Never again will there be an infant who lives only a few days, or an old person who doesn’t live out their full years. A person who dies at a hundred will be considered young, and anyone who falls short of a hundred will be considered .They will . They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.They won’t build for someone else to live in. They won’t plant for someone else to eat. My people will , and my will fully enjoy the work of their hands.They won’t work for nothing. They won’t have . They are the offspring that Yahweh has — they and their descendants with them.Before they even , I will . While they are still speaking, I will hear., and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the snake will eat dust. Nothing will cause harm or destruction anywhere on , says Yahweh.