Isaiah Chapter 65

Isaiah 65 — English translation

Translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition. Verse numbers match the Hebrew text below.

1. 1I responded to those who did not ask, I was at hand to those who did not seek Me; I said, “Here I am, here I am,” To a nation that did not invoke My name.
2. 2I constantly spread out My hands To a disloyal people, Who walk the way that is not good, Following their own designs;
3. 3The people who provoke My anger, Who continually, to My very face, Sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on tiles;
4. 4Who sit inside tombs And pass the night in secret places; Who eat the flesh of swine, With broth of unclean things in their bowls;
5. 5Who say, “Keep your distance! Don’t come closer! For I would render you consecrated.” as equivalent to qiddashtikha , cf. Ezek. 44.19; trad. “I am holier than thou.” Such things make My anger rage, Like fire blazing all day long.
6. 6See, this is recorded before Me; I will not stand idly by, but will repay, Deliver their sins into their bosom,
7. 7And the sins of their ancestors as well —said G OD — For they made offerings upon the mountains And affronted Me upon the hills. I will count out their recompense in full, as equivalent to be-roʼshah ; cf. Lev. 5.24; Jer. 16.18. Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Into their bosoms.
8. 8Thus said G OD : As, when new wine is present in the cluster, One says, “Don’t destroy it; there’s good in it,” So will I do for the sake of My servants, And not destroy everything.
9. 9I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, From Judah heirs to My mountains; My chosen ones shall take possession, My servants shall dwell thereon.
10. 10Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down, For My people who seek Me.
11. 11But as for you who forsake G OD , Who ignore My holy mountain, Who set a table for Luck And fill a mixing bowl for Destiny:
12. 12I will destine you for the sword, You will all kneel down, to be slaughtered— Because, when I called, you did not answer, When I spoke, you would not listen. You did what I hold evil, And chose what I do not want.
13. 13Assuredly, thus said my Sovereign G OD : My servants shall eat, and you shall hunger; My servants shall drink, and you shall thirst; My servants shall rejoice, and you shall be shamed;
14. 14My servants shall shout in gladness, And you shall cry out in anguish, Howling in heartbreak.
15. 15You shall leave behind a name By which My chosen ones shall curse: “So may our Sovereign G OD slay you!” But My servants shall be given a different name.
16. 16For whoever blesses themselves in the land Shall bless themselves by the true God; And whoever swears in the land Shall swear by the true God. The former troubles shall be forgotten, Shall be hidden from My eyes.
17. 17For behold! I am creating A new heaven and a new earth; The former things shall not be remembered, They shall never come to mind.
18. 18Be glad, then, and rejoice forever In what I am creating. For I shall create Jerusalem as a joy, And her people as a delight;
19. 19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem And delight in her people. Never again shall be heard there The sounds of weeping and wailing.
20. 20No more shall there be an infant or graybeard Who does not live out their lifetime. Someone who dies at a hundred years Shall be reckoned a youth, And one who fails to reach a hundred Shall be reckoned accursed.
21. 21They shall build houses and dwell in them, They shall plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit.
22. 22They shall not build for others to dwell in, Or plant for others to enjoy. For the days of My people shall be As long as the days of a tree, My chosen ones shall outlive The work of their hands.
23. 23They shall not toil to no purpose; They shall not bear children for terror, But they shall be a people blessed by G OD , And their offspring shall remain with them.
24. 24Before they pray, I will answer; While they are still speaking, I will respond.
25. 25The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox, And the serpent’s food shall be earth. In all My sacred mount Nothing evil or vile shall be done —said G OD .

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