Isaiah 65:1-14 ▼

1 I AM sought of those who did not ask for me; I am found of those who sought me not; I said, Here am I, here am I, to a nation that has never called my name.

2 I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts,

3 A people who provoke me to anger continually, who sacrifice in the gardens and burn incense upon altars of bricks;

4 Who sit in tombs and lodge in caves, who eat swine's flesh and pollute their vessels with unclean carcasses; to break the law and to defile the holy covenant, that they may provoke the LORD.

5 Who say, Keep away, do not come near me; for I am sanctified. These men are a smoke in my anger, a fire that burns all the day.

6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence until I recompense them a double portion into their bosom.

7 Their sins and the sins of their fathers are well known, says the LORD, for they have burned incense upon the mountains and reproached me upon the hills; therefore I will measure their former works into their bosom.

8 Thus says the LORD: As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says to another, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it; so will I do for my servant's sake, and I will not destroy them all.

9 And I will bring forth an offspring out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; my elect shall inherit it and my servants shall dwell there.

10 And Sharon shall 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 as for you who have forsaken the LORD and have forgotten his holy mountain, who prepare tables for fortune tellers and have poured out wine into bowls for them,

12 I will deliver you up to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen; and you did evil in my presence, and did choose the thing wherein I do not delight.

13 Therefore thus says the LORD God: Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall weep;

14 Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall complain for sorrow of heart and for vexation of spirit.