Isaiah 65:1-5 ▼

1 I was ready to answer those who didn't ask. I was found by those who weren't looking for me. I said, |Here I am! Here I am!| to a nation that didn't worship me.

2 I stretched out my hands all day long to stubborn people. They chose to go the wrong direction. They followed their own plans.

3 These people constantly and openly provoked me. They offered sacrifices in gardens and burnt incense on brick altars.

4 They sat among the graves and spent their nights in caves. They ate pork and in their pots made broth from unclean foods.

5 They said, |Stay away! Don't touch me! I'm holier than you are.| They have become like smoke in my nose, like a smoldering fire all day long.