1 Judgment and Salvation
1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; 1 I was found by those who did not seek me. 1 To a nation that did not call on my name, 1 I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'
2 All day long I have held out my hands 2 to an obstinate people, 2 who walk in ways not good, 2 pursuing their own imaginations—
3 a people who continually provoke me 3 to my very face, 3 offering sacrifices in gardens 3 and burning incense on altars of brick;
4 who sit among the graves 4 and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; 4 who eat the flesh of pigs, 4 and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
5 who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me, 5 for I am too sacred for you!' 5 Such people are smoke in my nostrils, 5 a fire that keeps burning all day.
6 "See, it stands written before me: 6 I will not keep silent but will pay back in full; 6 I will pay it back into their laps—
7 both your sins and the sins of your ancestors," 7 says the Lord. 7 "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains 7 and defied me on the hills, 7 I will measure into their laps 7 the full payment for their former deeds."
8 This is what the Lord says: 8 "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes 8 and people say, 'Don't destroy it, 8 there is still a blessing in it,' 8 so will I do in behalf of my servants; 8 I will not destroy them all.
9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, 9 and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; 9 my chosen people will inherit them, 9 and there will my servants live.
10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, 10 and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, 10 for my people who seek me.
11 "But as for you who forsake the Lord 11 and forget my holy mountain, 11 who spread a table for Fortune 11 and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the sword, 12 and all of you will fall in the slaughter; 12 for I called but you did not answer, 12 I spoke but you did not listen. 12 You did evil in my sight 12 and chose what displeases me."
13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 13 "My servants will eat, 13 but you will go hungry; 13 my servants will drink, 13 but you will go thirsty; 13 my servants will rejoice, 13 but you will be put to shame.
14 My servants will sing 14 out of the joy of their hearts, 14 but you will cry out 14 from anguish of heart 14 and wail in brokenness of spirit.
15 You will leave your name 15 for my chosen ones to use in their curses; 15 the Sovereign Lord will put you to death, 15 but to his servants he will give another name.
16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land 16 will do so by the one true God; 16 whoever takes an oath in the land 16 will swear by the one true God. 16 For the past troubles will be forgotten 16 and hidden from my eyes.
16 17
17 New Heavens and a New Earth
17 "See, I will create 17 new heavens and a new earth. 17 The former things will not be remembered, 17 nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever 18 in what I will create, 18 for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight 18 and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem 19 and take delight in my people; 19 the sound of weeping and of crying 19 will be heard in it no more.
20 "Never again will there be in it 20 infants who live but a few days, 20 or older people who do not live out their years; 20 those who die at a hundred 20 will be thought mere youths; 20 those who fail to reach[a] a hundred 20 will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses and dwell in them; 21 they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, 22 or plant and others eat. 22 For as the days of a tree, 22 so will be the days of my people; 22 my chosen ones will long enjoy 22 the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain, 23 nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; 23 for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, 23 they and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer; 24 while they are still speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, 25 and the lion will eat straw like the ox, 25 but dust will be the serpent's food. 25 They will neither harm nor destroy 25 on all my holy mountain," 25 says the Lord.
