1Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? (1Ki 8:27; Mt 5:34; Ac 7:49; Ac 17:24)2All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (1Ch 29:14; Ps 34:18; Isa 57:15)3“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; (Isa 1:11; Isa 65:4; Jer 7:24)4I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.” (Isa 30:16; Isa 51:12; Isa 65:12; Jer 7:31)5Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name’s sake have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is they who shall be put to shame. (Isa 5:19)6“The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of the Lord, rendering recompense to his enemies! (Isa 63:4; Isa 65:6)
Rejoice with Jerusalem
7“Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. (Isa 13:8)8Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. (Isa 66:7)9Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God.10“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; (Isa 65:19)11that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.”[1]12For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. (Isa 48:18; Isa 60:16)13As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. (Isa 35:10; Isa 51:12)14You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies. (Ezr 8:22; Ezr 8:31; Isa 58:11)
Final Judgment and Glory of the Lord
15“For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. (Ps 68:17; Isa 33:14; Mal 3:1; 2Th 1:7)16For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many. (Ps 97:3; Joe 3:2)17“Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the Lord. (Isa 65:3; Isa 65:4; Isa 65:5)18“For I know[2] their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming[3] to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, (Isa 2:2; Zec 14:16)19and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. (Ge 10:2; Ge 10:5; 1Ki 10:22; Isa 45:20; Jer 46:9; Eze 27:10; Eze 27:13; Ro 15:20)20And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. (Isa 14:2; Isa 49:22; Ro 15:16)21And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord. (Ex 19:6; Isa 61:6; 1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6)22“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. (Ps 89:29; Isa 53:10; Isa 65:17)23From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord. (Ps 86:9; Zec 14:16)24“And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” (Mr 9:48; Re 21:8)
Isaiah 66
New International Version
Judgment and hope
1This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting-place be?2Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. ‘These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.3But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations;4so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no-one answered, when I spoke, no-one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.’5Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word; ‘Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, “Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!” Yet they will be put to shame.6Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve.7‘Before she goes into labour, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.8Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children.9Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?’ says the Lord. ‘Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?’ says your God.10‘Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.11For you will feed and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.’12For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will feed and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.13As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.’14When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.15See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.16For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.17‘Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things – they will meet their end together with the one they follow,’ declares the Lord.18‘And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come[1] and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.19‘I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations – to Tarshish, to the Libyans[2] and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.20And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord – on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,’ says the Lord. ‘They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.21And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,’ says the Lord.22‘As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,’ declares the Lord, ‘so will your name and descendants endure.23From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,’ says the Lord.24‘And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.’
Isaiah 66
King James Version
1Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog' neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine' blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.5Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name' sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.6A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.7Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb ? saith thy God.10Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:11That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.12For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.13As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.14And when ye see this , your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine' flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Isaiah 66
New International Reader’s Version
The Lord judges some people and blesses others
1The LORD says, ‘Heaven is my throne. The earth is under my control. So how could you ever build a house for me? Where would my resting place be?2Didn’t I make everything by my power? That is how all things were created,’ announces the LORD. ‘The people I value are not proud. They are sorry for the wrong things they have done. They have great respect for what I say.3But others are not like that. They sacrifice bulls to me, but at the same time they kill people. They offer lambs to me, but they also sacrifice dogs to other gods. They bring grain offerings to me, but they also offer pig’s blood to other gods. They burn incense to me, but they also worship statues of gods. They have chosen to go their own way. They take delight in things I hate.4So I have also made a choice. I will make them suffer greatly. I will bring on them what they are afraid of. When I called out to them, no one answered me. When I spoke to them, no one listened. They did what is evil in my sight. They chose to do what displeases me.’5Listen to the word of the LORD. Listen, you who tremble with fear when he speaks. He says, ‘Some of your own people hate you. They turn their backs on you because you are faithful to me. They make fun of you and say, “Let the LORD show his glory by saving you. Then we can see how happy you are.” But they will be put to shame.6Hear the loud sounds coming from the city! Listen to the noise coming from the temple! I am the one causing it. I am paying back my enemies for everything they have done.7‘Zion is like a woman who has a baby before she goes into labour. She has a son even before her labour pains begin.8Who has ever heard of anything like that? Who has ever seen such a thing? Can a country be born in a day? Can a nation be created in a moment? But as soon as Zion goes into labour, there are many more of her people.9Zion, would I bring you to the moment of birth and not let it happen?’ says the LORD. ‘Would I close up a mother’s body when it is time for her baby to be born?’ says your God.10‘Be glad along with Jerusalem, all you who love her. Be filled with joy because of her. Take great delight in her, all you who mourn over her.11You will feed at her comforting breasts. And you will be satisfied. You will drink until you are full. And you will delight in her rich and plentiful supply.’12The LORD continues, ‘I will cause peace to flow over her like a river. I will make the wealth of nations sweep over her like a flooding stream. You will feed and be carried in her arms. You will play on her lap.13As a mother comforts her child, I will comfort you. You will find comfort in Jerusalem.’14When you see that happen, your hearts will be filled with joy. Just as grass grows quickly, you will succeed. The LORD will show his power to those who serve him. But he will pour out his anger on his enemies.15The LORD will judge them with fire. His chariots are coming like a violent storm. He will pour out his burning anger on his enemies. It will blaze out like flames of fire.16The LORD will judge with fire and with his sword. He will judge all people. He will put many people to death.17‘Some people set themselves apart and make themselves pure. They do it so they can go into the gardens to worship other gods. They follow what the worship leader tells them to do. They are among those who eat the meat of pigs and rats. They also eat other “unclean” things. Those people and the one they follow will come to a horrible end,’ announces the LORD.18‘They have planned to do many evil things. And they have carried out their plans. So I will come and gather the people of every nation and language. They will see my glory when I act.19‘I will give them a sign. I will send to the nations some of those who are left alive. I will send some of them to the people of Tarshish, Libya and Lydia, who are famous for using bows. I will send others to Tubal and Greece. And I will send still others to islands far away. The people who live there have not heard about my fame. They have not seen my glory. But when I act, those I send will tell the nations about my glory.20And they will bring back all the people of Israel from all those nations. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem. My people will ride on horses, mules and camels. They will come in chariots and wagons,’ says the LORD. ‘Those messengers will bring my people as an offering to me. They will bring them to my temple, just as the Israelites bring their grain offerings in bowls that are “clean”.21And I will choose some of them to be priests and Levites,’ says the LORD.22‘I will make new heavens and a new earth. And they will last for ever,’ announces the LORD. ‘In the same way, your name and your children after you will last for ever.23Everyone will come and bow down to me. They will do it at every New Moon feast and on every Sabbath day,’ says the LORD.24‘When they go out of Jerusalem, they will see the dead bodies of those who refused to obey me. The worms that eat their bodies will not die. The fire that burns them will not be put out. It will make everyone sick just to look at them.’