Isaiah Chapter 66

Isaiah 66 — English translation

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

1. 1Thus said G OD : The heaven is My throne And the earth is My footstool: Where could you build a house for Me, What place could serve as My abode?
2. 2All this was made by My hand, And thus it all came into being —declares G OD . Yet to such a one I look: To the poor and brokenhearted, Who is concerned about My word.
3. 3As for those who slaughter oxen and slay humans, Who sacrifice sheep and immolate dogs, Who present as oblation the blood of swine, Who offer refers to giving the “token portion” ( ʼazkarah ); cf. Lev. 2.2, etc. incense and worship false gods— Just as they have chosen their ways And take pleasure in their abominations,
4. 4So will I choose to mock them, To bring on them the very thing they dread. For I called and none responded, I spoke and none paid heed. They did what I deem evil And chose what I do not want.
5. 5Hear the word of G OD , You who are concerned about God’s word! Your own kindred who hate you, Who spurn you because of Me, are saying, “Let G OD manifest the divine Presence, So that we may look upon your joy.” But theirs shall be the shame.
6. 6Hark, tumult from the city, Thunder from the temple! It is G OD ’s thunder As retribution is dealt to the foe.
7. 7Before she labored, she was delivered; Before her pangs came, she bore a son.
8. 8Who ever heard the like? Who ever witnessed such events? Can a land pass through travail In a single day? Or is a nation born All at once? Yet Zion travailed And at once bore her children!
9. 9Shall I who bring on labor not bring about birth? —says G OD . Shall I who cause birth shut the womb? —said your God.
10. 10Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, All you who love her! Join in her jubilation, All you who mourned over her—
11. 11That you may suck from her breast Consolation to the full, That you may draw from her bosom , Arabic zīzat , “udder.” Glory to your delight.
12. 12For thus said G OD : I will extend to her Prosperity like a stream, The wealth of nations Like a wadi in flood; And you shall drink of it. You shall be carried on shoulders And dandled upon knees
13. 13Like one whom a mother comforts. So I will comfort you: You shall find comfort in Jerusalem.
14. 14You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, Your limbs shall flourish like grass. G OD ’s power shall be revealed On behalf of those who render service; But [God] shall rage against all foes.
15. 15See, G OD is coming with fire— With chariots like a whirlwind— To vent anger in fury, And rebuke in flaming fire.
16. 16For with fire will contend, With the sword, against all flesh; And many shall be G OD ’s slain.
17. 17Those who sanctify and purify themselves to enter the groves, imitating one in the center, eating the flesh of the swine, the reptile, and the mouse, shall one and all come to an end—declares G OD .
18. 18For I [know] their deeds and purposes. [The time] has come to gather all the nations and tongues; they shall come and behold My glory.
19. 19I will set a sign among them, and send from them survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud—that draw the bow—to Tubal, Javan, and the distant coasts, that have never heard My fame nor beheld My glory. They shall declare My glory among these nations.
20. 20And out of all the nations, said G OD , they shall bring all your kindred on horses, in chariots and drays, on mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem My holy mountain as an offering to G OD —just as the Israelites bring an offering in a pure vessel to the House of G OD .
21. 21And from them likewise I will take some to be levitical priests, said G OD .
22. 22For as the new heaven and the new earth That I will make Shall endure by My will —declares G OD — So shall your seed and your name endure.
23. 23And new moon after new moon, And sabbath after sabbath, All flesh shall come to worship Me —said G OD .
24. 24They shall go out and gaze On the corpses of those who rebelled against Me: Their worms shall not die, Nor their fire be quenched; They shall be a horror To all flesh. And new moon after new moon, And sabbath after sabbath, All flesh shall come to worship Me —said G OD .

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