Chapter 66
1 Yahweh says : " Heaven is my throne , and the earth is my footstool . What kind of house will you build to me ? Where will I rest ?
2 For my hand has made all these things , and so all these things came to be ," says Yahweh : " but I will look to this man , even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit , and who trembles at my word .
3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man ; he who sacrifices a lamb , as he who breaks a dog ’s neck ; he who offers an offering , as he who offers pig ’s blood ; he who burns frankincense , as he who blesses an idol . Yes , they have chosen their own ways , and their soul delights in their abominations .
4 I also will choose their delusions , and will bring their fears on them , because when I called , no one answered ; when I spoke , they didn’t listen , but they did that which was evil in my eyes , and chose that in which I didn’t delight ."
5 Hear Yahweh ’s word , you who tremble at his word : " Your brothers who hate you , who cast you out for my name ’s sake , have said , ‘Let Yahweh be glorified , that we may see your joy ;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed.
6 A voice of tumult from the city , a voice from the temple , a voice of Yahweh that repays his enemies what they deserve.
7 " Before she travailed , she gave birth . Before her pain came, she delivered a son .
8 Who has heard of such a thing ? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day ? Shall a nation be born at once ? For as soon as Zion travailed , she gave birth to her children .
9 Shall I bring to the birth , and not cause to be delivered ?" says Yahweh . " Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?" says your God .
10 " Rejoice with Jerusalem , and be glad for her , all you who love her . Rejoice for joy with her , all you who mourn over her ;
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts ; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory ."
12 For Yahweh says , " Behold , I will extend peace to her like a river , and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream , and you will nurse . You will be carried on her side , and will be dandled on her knees .
13 As one whom his mother comforts , so I will comfort you . You will be comforted in Jerusalem ."
14 You will see it , and your heart shall rejoice , and your bones will flourish like the tender grass . Yahweh ’s hand will be known among his servants ; and he will have indignation against his enemies .
15 For , behold , Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind ; to give his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For Yahweh will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh ; and those slain by Yahweh will be many .
17 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens , following one in the middle , eating pig ’s meat , abominable things , and the mouse , they shall come to an end together ," says Yahweh .
18 " For I know their works and their thoughts . The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages , and they will come, and will see my glory .
19 " I will set a sign among them , and I will send those who escape of them to the nations , to Tarshish , Pul , and Lud , who draw the bow , to Tubal and Javan , to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame , nor have seen my glory ; and they shall declare my glory among the nations .
20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh , on horses , in chariots , in litters , on mules , and on camels , to my holy mountain Jerusalem , says Yahweh , as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Yahweh ’s house .
21 Of them I will also select priests and Levites ," says Yahweh .
22 " For as the new heavens and the new earth , which I will make , shall remain before me ," says Yahweh , " so your offspring and your name shall remain .
23 It shall happen that from one new moon to another , and from one Sabbath to another , all flesh will come to worship before me ," says Yahweh .
24 " They will go out , and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me ; for their worm will not die , nor will their fire be quenched , and they will be loathsome to all mankind ."