Isaiah 65:1-18 ▼

1 I gave access to them that asked not for Me, I was at hand to them that sought Me not; I said: 'Behold Me, behold Me', Unto a nation that was not called by My name.

2 I have spread out My hands all the day Unto a rebellious people, That walk in a way that is not good, After their own thoughts;

3 A people that provoke Me To My face continually, That sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense upon bricks;

4 That sit among the graves, And lodge in the vaults; That eat swine's flesh, And broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

5 That say: 'Stand by thyself, Come not near to me, for I am holier than thou'; These are a smoke in My nose, A fire that burneth all the day.

6 Behold, it is written before Me; I will not keep silence, except I have requited, Yea, I will requite into their bosom,

7 Your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, Saith the LORD, that have offered upon the mountains, And blasphemed Me upon the hills; Therefore will I first measure their wage into their bosom.

8 Thus saith the LORD: As, when wine is found in the cluster, One saith: 'Destroy it not, For a blessing is in it'; So will I do for My servants' sakes, That I may not destroy all.

9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, And out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains; And Mine elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there.

10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, For My people that have sought Me;

11 But ye that forsake the LORD, That forget My holy mountain, That prepare a table for Fortune, And that offer mingled wine in full measure unto Destiny,

12 I will destine you to the sword, And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because when I called, ye did not answer, When I spoke, ye did not hear; But ye did that which was evil in Mine eyes, And chose that wherein I delighted not.

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, My servants shall eat, But ye shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But ye shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But ye shall be ashamed;

14 Behold, My servants shall sing For joy of heart, But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, And shall wail for vexation of spirit.

15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto Mine elect: 'So may the Lord GOD slay thee'; But He shall call His servants by another name;

16 So that he who blesseth himself in the earth Shall bless himself by the God of truth; And he that sweareth in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hid from Mine eyes.

17 For, behold, I create new heavens And a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered, Nor come into mind.

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever In that which I create; For, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, And her people a joy.