Isaiah 66

1 Thus, saith Yahweh, The, heavens, are my throne, and The earth, is my footstool: Where then is the house which ye can build me? Or where is my place of rest?

This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is where I place my feet. So where will this house be that you're going to build for me? Where will I lie down to rest?

2 For, all these things, hath mine own hand made, And all these things came into being, —Declareth Yahweh. But for this one, will I look around, For him who is humbled and smitten in spirit, And so careth anxiously for my word.

I made everything; that's how it all came into existence, says the Lord. Those I look favorably on are humble and repentant, and they tremble when I speak.

3 He that slaughtereth an ox, [is as one] who smiteth a man, He that sacrificeth a lamb, [is as one] who beheadeth a dog, he that causeth a meal-offering to ascend, offereth it with the blood of swine, He that maketh a memorial of frankincense, [is as one] who blesseth iniquity: They indeed, have chosen their own ways, And in their own abominations, their soul hath found delight;

When someone sacrifices a bull it's like human sacrifice, and when someone sacrifices a lamb, it's like breaking the neck of a dog. When they present a grain offering it's like presenting pig's blood, and when they burn incense it's like worshiping an idol. Since they have chosen to act like this and to love such disgusting things,

4 I, also, will choose the things that vex them. And the things they dread, will I bring upon them, Because—I called and there was none to answer, I spake, and they hearkened not, —But did that which was wicked in mine eyes, And of that wherein I delighted not, made choice.

I will also choose to punish them severely and to terrify them, because I called out to them but no one answered; I spoke to them, but no one listened. Instead they did what's evil in my sight, choosing to do what I hate.

5 Hear the word of Yahweh, ye who care anxiously for his word: Said your brethren Who hated you. Who thrust you out for my Name’s sake, Yahweh be glorified! Therefore shall he appear to your rejoicing, But, they, shall turn pale.

Listen to what the Lord has to say, those of you who tremble when he speaks. This is what some of your people who hate you and throw you out have said, “Let the Lord be glorified, so we can see how happy you are!” but it's them who are going to be humiliated.

6 The sound of a tumult—out of the city, A sound, out of the temple, —The sound of Yahweh rendering recompense to his foes.

Hear all the shouting from the city! Hear all the noise from the Temple! It's the sound of the Lord giving his enemies back what they deserve.

7 Before she travaileth, she hath brought forth, —Before her pains come to her, she hath given birth to a man-child!

She gave birth before she went into labor, she delivered a boy before the pains came.

8 Who hath heard the like of this? Who hath seen the like of these things? Can a land, be made to bring forth in one day? Or a nation, be born, at one time? As soon as she travaileth, Zion hath also given birth to her children.

Who has ever heard of anything like this? Who has seen this kind of thing before? Can a country be delivered in a day, can a nation be born in a moment? Yet as soon as Zion went into labor, she gave birth to her children.

9 Could, I, bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? saith Yahweh. Or, I, be causing to bring forth and then prevent? Saith thy God.

Would I bring a baby to the point of birth and then not deliver it? the Lord asks. Would I who deliver the baby stop it from being born? the Lord asks again.

10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and exult over her All ye who love her, —Joy with her right joyfully, All ye who used to mourn over her:

Celebrate with Jerusalem and be happy for her, everyone who loves her; celebrate with her and sing for joy, everyone who mourns over her.

11 That ye may draw to satisfaction out of the fountain of her consolations, —That ye may drain out and get exquisite delight from the abundance of her glory.

Like a baby you can nurse at her breasts that bring comfort, drinking deeply and being satisfied by all she has to give.

12 For, thus, saith Yahweh, —Behold me! extending unto her like a river, prosperity, And as a torrent o’erflowing, the glory of the nations. That ye may draw it forth—Upon the side, shall ye be carried, and Upon the knees, shall ye be caressed:

This is what the Lord says: Watch! I'm going to give her peace and prosperity like a flowing river, the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse and be carried on her hip and played with on her knees.

13 As one whom, his mother, consoleth, So, will, I, console you, And in Jerusalem, shall ye be consoled.

Like a mother comforting her child, I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 As soon as ye have seen it, your heart, shall be joyful, And your bones, like green herbage, shall thrive, —So shall be known The hand of Yahweh with his servants, But indignation with his foes!

When you see this happening, you'll be happy deep inside, and you'll prosper like growing grass. The Lord's power will be recognized as blessing his servants and cursing his enemies.

15 For lo! Yahweh, with fire, doth come, And like a storm-wind, [are] his chariots, —To render with fury, his anger, And his rebuke with flames of fire.

Look! The Lord is coming surrounded by fire, his chariots whirling like the wind, to express his anger with fury, to give his reprimand in flames of fire.

16 For, by fire, will Yahweh enter into judgment, And by his sword, with all flesh, —And many shall be the slain of Yahweh.

The Lord will execute judgment on everyone by fire and by his sword. There will be many killed by the Lord.

17 They who hallow themselves and purify themselves for the gardens, Behind a certain thing in the midst, Who eat the flesh of swine and the abomination, and the mouse, Together, shall be cut off—Declareth Yahweh.

Those who dedicate themselves and make themselves pure in order to enter the sacred gardens, to worship the idol placed in the center, and to eat pork and vermin and rats and other disgusting things—they will all die together, says the Lord.

18 Because, I, …for their works and their devices, doth it come! …Am about to gather together all nations and tongues, —So shall they come and see my glory.

I know what they're doing and what they're thinking. I will soon come to gather all nations and peoples of different languages. They will come and see my glory.

19 Then will I set among them, a sign, And will send, of them such as have escaped unto the nations—Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the bow, Tubal and Javan, —The Coastlands that are afar off, Who have not heard my fame Nor seen my glory, And they shall tell my glory throughout the nations.

I will give them a sign, and I will send some who survive to the nations. They will go to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant lands that haven't heard about me or seen my glory. They will announce my glory among the nations.

20 Then shall they bring in all your brethren out of all the nations, As a present unto Yahweh, Upon horses and in chariots and in palanquins and on mules and on dromedaries Unto my holy mountain—Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, —Just as the sons of Israel, bring in their present in a pure vessel, into the house, of Yahweh.

They will bring back all your people from every nations to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord. They will come on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels, says the Lord. They will bring them in the same way the Israelites bring their grain offerings to the Lord's Temple using vessels that are ceremonially clean.

21 And of them also, will I take for priests—for Levites, saith Yahweh,

I will choose some of them as priests and Levites, says the Lord.

22 For, as the new heavens and the new earth, which I am about to make, are to remain before me, Declareth Yahweh, So, shall remain your seed and your name.

As the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will last forever, so your descendants and your reputation will also last forever, says the Lord.

23 And it shall come to pass, that From one new moon to another, and From one sabbath to another, Shall all flesh, come in, to bow down before me, Saith Yahweh.

Everyone will come and worship me, from one New Moon to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, says the Lord.

24 Then shall they go forth and look upon the dead bodies of the men who had been trespassing against me—For, their worm, shall not die, And, their fire, shall not be quenched; So shall they become an abhorrence to all flesh.

They will go out and see the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me. The worms that eat them won't die, the fire that burns them won't go out, and everyone who sees them will be horrified.