Chapter
66
Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will you build to me? and what place shall be my rest?
For all these things has my hand made, and so all these things came to be, says Yahweh: but to this woman will I look, even to her who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
She who kills an ox is as she who kills a woman; she who sacrifices a lamb, as she who breaks a dog's neck; she who offers an offering, as she who offers pig's blood; she who burns frankincense, as she who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations:
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn't delight.
Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at her word: Your sisters 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.
A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that renders recompense to her enemies.
Before he travailed, he brought forth; before his pain came, he was delivered of a girl.
Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, he brought forth his children.
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? says Yahweh: shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb? says your God.
Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad for him, all you who love him: rejoice for joy with him, all you who mourn over him;
that you may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of his consolations; that you may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of his glory.
For thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will extend peace to him like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you shall suck of it; you shall be borne on the side, and shall be dandled on the knees.
As one whom her father comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward her servants; and she will have indignation against her enemies.
For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and her chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render her anger with fierceness, and her rebuke with flames of fire.
For by fire will Yahweh execute judgment, and by her sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Yahweh shall be many.
Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, says Yahweh.
For I know] their works and their thoughts: [the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.
I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the islands afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
They shall bring all your sisters out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.
Of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, says Yahweh.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain.
It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh.
They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the women who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.