Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God, according to the promise of (D)life in Christ Jesus,

To (E)Timothy, my beloved [b](F)son: (G)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

(H)I thank God, whom I (I)serve with a (J)clear conscience [c]the way my forefathers did, (K)as I constantly remember you in my [d]prayers night and day, (L)longing to see you, (M)even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. [e]For I am mindful of the (N)sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and (O)your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh (P)the gift of God which is in you through (Q)the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a (R)spirit of [f]timidity, but of power and love and [g]discipline.

Therefore (S)do not be ashamed of the (T)testimony of our Lord or of me (U)His prisoner, but join with me in (V)suffering for the (W)gospel according to the power of God, who (X)saved us and (Y)called us with a holy (Z)calling, (AA)not according to our works, but according to His own (AB)purpose and grace, which was granted to us in (AC)Christ Jesus from (AD)all eternity, 10 but has (AE)now been revealed by the (AF)appearing of our Savior (AG)Christ Jesus, who (AH)abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 (AI)for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; but (AJ)I am not ashamed, for I know (AK)whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to (AL)protect what I have entrusted to Him [h]until (AM)that day. 13 (AN)Hold on to the (AO)example of (AP)sound words (AQ)which you have heard from me, in the (AR)faith and love which are in (AS)Christ Jesus. 14 Protect, through the Holy Spirit who (AT)dwells in us, the [i](AU)treasure which has been entrusted to you.

15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in [j](AV)Asia (AW)turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to (AX)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and (AY)was not ashamed of my [k](AZ)chains; 17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on (BA)that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at (BB)Ephesus.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 1:1 Lit through
  2. 2 Timothy 1:2 Or child
  3. 2 Timothy 1:3 Lit from my forefathers
  4. 2 Timothy 1:3 Or petitions
  5. 2 Timothy 1:5 Lit Receiving remembrance of
  6. 2 Timothy 1:7 Or cowardice
  7. 2 Timothy 1:7 Or sound judgment
  8. 2 Timothy 1:12 Or for
  9. 2 Timothy 1:14 Lit good deposit
  10. 2 Timothy 1:15 I.e., the province of Asia
  11. 2 Timothy 1:16 Lit chain

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,(C)

To Timothy,(D) my dear son:(E)

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)

Thanksgiving

I thank God,(G) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,(H) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.(I) Recalling your tears,(J) I long to see you,(K) so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith,(L) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(M) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.(N) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,(O) but gives us power,(P) love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed(Q) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(R) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(S) by the power of God. He has saved(T) us and called(U) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done(V) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed(W) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,(X) who has destroyed death(Y) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel(Z) I was appointed(AA) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.(AB) 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,(AC) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard(AD) what I have entrusted to him until that day.(AE)

13 What you heard from me,(AF) keep(AG) as the pattern(AH) of sound teaching,(AI) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.(AJ) 14 Guard(AK) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.(AL)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia(AM) has deserted me,(AN) including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,(AO) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed(AP) of my chains.(AQ) 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!(AR) You know very well in how many ways he helped me(AS) in Ephesus.(AT)

Similitudes and Instructions

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.
Like a (C)sparrow in its [a]flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a (D)curse without cause does not come to rest.
A (E)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (F)rod for the back of fools.
(G)Do not answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(H)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (I)wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like [c]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like [d]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that [e]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [f]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (J)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (K)repeats [g]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (L)wise in his own eyes?
(M)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 [h]A (N)lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road!
A lion is [i]in the public square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does a (O)lazy one on his bed.
15 A (P)lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 A lazy one is (Q)wiser in his own eyes
Than seven people who can [j]give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
So is one who passes by and [k]meddles with (R)strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a maniac who shoots
(S)Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 So is a person who (T)deceives his neighbor,
And says, “(U)Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (V)gossiper, (W)quarreling quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (X)contentious person to kindle strife.
22 The (Y)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [l]innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthenware (Z)vessel overlaid with silver [m](AA)impurities
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 One who (AB)hates disguises it with his lips,
But he harbors (AC)deceit in his [n]heart.
25 When [o]he (AD)speaks graciously, do not believe him,
Because there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred (AE)covers itself with deception,
His wickedness will be (AF)revealed in the assembly.
27 One who (AG)digs a pit will fall into it,
And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates [p]those it crushes,
And a (AH)flattering mouth works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:2 Lit wandering
  2. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  3. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  4. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  5. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  6. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  7. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his
  8. Proverbs 26:13 Lit an idle, and so throughout the ch
  9. Proverbs 26:13 Lit within
  10. Proverbs 26:16 Lit return discreetly
  11. Proverbs 26:17 Lit infuriates himself
  12. Proverbs 26:22 Lit chambers of the belly
  13. Proverbs 26:23 Lit dross
  14. Proverbs 26:24 Lit inward part
  15. Proverbs 26:25 Lit his voice is gracious
  16. Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones

26 Like snow in summer or rain(A) in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.(B)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(C)
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(D)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!(E)
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(F)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(G)
Sending a message by the hands of a fool(H)
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(I)
Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.(J)
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(K)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(L)
    so fools repeat their folly.(M)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(N)
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.(O)

13 A sluggard says,(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(V)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(AA) will fall into it;(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(AD) works ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

A Rebellious People

65 “I permitted Myself to be sought by (A)those who did not ask for Me;
I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’
To a nation which (B)did not call on My name.
(C)I have spread out My hands all day long to a (D)rebellious people,
Who walk in the way which is not good, [a]following their own (E)thoughts,
A people who continually (F)provoke Me to My face,
Offering sacrifices in (G)gardens and (H)burning incense on bricks;
Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places;
Who (I)eat pig’s flesh,
And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.
Who say, ‘(J)Keep to yourself, do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My [b]nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
Behold, it is written before Me:
I will (K)not keep silent, but (L)I will repay;
I will even repay [c]into their laps,
Both your own (M)wrongdoings and the wrongdoings of your fathers together,” says the Lord.
“Because they have (N)burned incense on the mountains
And (O)scorned Me on the hills,
Therefore I will (P)measure their former work [d]into their laps.”

This is what the Lord says:

“Just as the new wine is found in the cluster,
And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is [e]benefit in it,’
So I will act in behalf of My servants
In order (Q)not to destroy [f]all of them.
I will bring forth [g](R)offspring from Jacob,
And an (S)heir of My mountains from Judah;
(T)My chosen ones shall inherit it,
And (U)My servants will live there.
10 (V)Sharon will be a pasture land for flocks,
And the (W)Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,
For My people who (X)seek Me.
11 But as for you who (Y)abandon the Lord,
Who forget My (Z)holy mountain,
Who set a table for [h]Fortune,
And fill a jug of mixed wine for [i]Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the (AA)sword,
And all of you will bow down to the (AB)slaughter.
Because I called, but you (AC)did not answer;
I spoke, but you did not listen.
Instead, you did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”

13 Therefore, this is what the Lord [j]God says:
“Behold, My servants will (AD)eat, but you will be (AE)hungry.
Behold, My servants will (AF)drink, but you will be (AG)thirsty.
Behold, My servants will (AH)rejoice, but you will be (AI)put to shame.
14 Behold, My servants will (AJ)shout joyfully with a glad heart,
But you will (AK)cry out from a painful heart,
And you will wail from a broken spirit.
15 You will leave your name as a (AL)curse to My chosen ones,
And the Lord [k]God will put you to death.
But [l]My servants will be called by (AM)another name.
16 Because the one who [m]is blessed on the earth
Will [n]be blessed by the (AN)God of truth;
And the one who swears an oath on the earth
Will (AO)swear by the God of truth;
Because the former troubles are forgotten,
And because they are hidden from My sight!

New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “For behold, I create (AP)new heavens and a new earth;
And the (AQ)former things will not be remembered or come to [o]mind.
18 But be (AR)glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
19 I will also (AS)rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of (AT)weeping and the sound of crying.
20 No longer will there be [p]in it an infant who lives only a few days,
Or an old person who does (AU)not [q]live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of a hundred,
And the [r](AV)one who does not reach the age of a hundred
Will be thought accursed.
21 They will (AW)build houses and inhabit them;
They will also (AX)plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They will not build and (AY)another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For (AZ)as the [s]lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will (BA)fully enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They will (BB)not labor in vain,
Or give birth to children for disaster;
For they are the [t](BC)descendants of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them.

24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will (BD)answer; while they are still speaking, I will listen. 25 The (BE)wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the (BF)lion will eat straw like the ox; and (BG)dust will be the serpent’s food. They will (BH)do no evil or harm on all My (BI)holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Heaven Is God’s Throne

66 This is what the Lord says:

(BJ)Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet.
Where then is a (BK)house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that [u]I may rest?
For (BL)My hand made all these things,
So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But I will look to this one,
At one who is humble and (BM)contrite in spirit, and who (BN)trembles at My word.

Hypocrisy Rebuked

But the one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a person;
The one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
One who offers a grain offering is like one who offers (BO)pig’s blood;
One who [v](BP)burns incense is like one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their (BQ)own ways,
And their souls delight in their (BR)abominations,
So I will (BS)choose their [w]punishments
And (BT)bring on them what they dread.
Because I called, but (BU)no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen.
Instead, they did (BV)evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”
Hear the word of the Lord, you who (BW)tremble at His word:
“Your brothers who (BX)hate you, who (BY)exclude you on account of My name,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, so that we may see your joy.’
But (BZ)they will be put to shame.
A sound of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple,
The voice of the Lord who is (CA)dealing retribution to His enemies.

“Before she was in labor, (CB)she delivered;
Before her pain came, (CC)she gave birth to a boy.
(CD)Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be [x]born in one day?
Can a nation be given birth all at once?
As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons.
Shall I bring to the point of birth but (CE)not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

Joy in Jerusalem’s Future

10 “Be (CF)joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who (CG)love her;
Be exceedingly (CH)glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
11 So that you may nurse and (CI)be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her (CJ)bountiful breasts.”
12 For this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I extend (CK)peace to her like a river,
And the (CL)glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
And you will [y]be nursed, you will be (CM)carried on the [z]hip and rocked back and forth on the knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will (CN)comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 Then you will (CO)see this, and your (CP)heart will be glad,
And your (CQ)bones will flourish like the new grass;
And the (CR)hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants,
But He will be (CS)indignant toward His enemies.
15 For behold, the Lord will come in (CT)fire,
And His (CU)chariots like the whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For the Lord will execute judgment by (CV)fire
And by His (CW)sword on [aa]humanity,
And those put to death by the Lord will be many.
17 “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the (CX)gardens,
[ab]Following one in the center,
Who eat (CY)pig’s flesh, detestable things, and mice,
Will (CZ)come to an end altogether,” declares the Lord.

18 “For I [ac]know their works and their (DA)thoughts; [ad]the time is coming to (DB)gather all the nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory. 19 And I will put a (DC)sign among them and send survivors from them to the nations: (DD)Tarshish, [ae]Put, (DE)Lud, [af]Meshech, (DF)Tubal, and [ag]Javan, to the distant (DG)coastlands that have neither heard of My fame nor seen My glory. And they will (DH)declare My glory among the nations. 20 Then they shall (DI)bring all your countrymen from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My (DJ)holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a (DK)clean vessel to the house of the Lord. 21 I will also take some of them as (DL)priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

22 “For just as the (DM)new heavens and the new earth,
Which I make, will endure before Me,” declares the Lord,
“So will your (DN)descendants and your (DO)name endure.
23 And it shall be from (DP)new moon to new moon
And from Sabbath to Sabbath,
All [ah]mankind will come to (DQ)bow down before Me,” says the Lord.
24 “Then they will go out and look
At the (DR)corpses of the people
Who have (DS)rebelled against Me.
For their (DT)worm will not die
(DU)And their fire will not be extinguished;
And they will be an (DV)abhorrence to all [ai]mankind.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:2 Lit after
  2. Isaiah 65:5 Lit nose
  3. Isaiah 65:6 I.e., individually and fully
  4. Isaiah 65:7 I.e., individually and fully
  5. Isaiah 65:8 Lit blessing
  6. Isaiah 65:8 Lit the whole
  7. Isaiah 65:9 Lit seed
  8. Isaiah 65:11 Heb Gad
  9. Isaiah 65:11 Heb Meni
  10. Isaiah 65:13 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  11. Isaiah 65:15 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  12. Isaiah 65:15 As in LXX; MT He will call His servants
  13. Isaiah 65:16 Or bless(es) himself
  14. Isaiah 65:16 Or bless(es) himself
  15. Isaiah 65:17 Lit heart
  16. Isaiah 65:20 Lit from there
  17. Isaiah 65:20 Lit fill out
  18. Isaiah 65:20 Lit one who misses the mark
  19. Isaiah 65:22 Lit days
  20. Isaiah 65:23 Lit seed
  21. Isaiah 66:1 Lit is My resting place?
  22. Isaiah 66:3 Lit offers a memorial of incense
  23. Isaiah 66:4 Lit ill treatments
  24. Isaiah 66:8 Lit born through labor-pains
  25. Isaiah 66:12 Lit nurse
  26. Isaiah 66:12 Lit side
  27. Isaiah 66:16 Lit all flesh
  28. Isaiah 66:17 Lit After
  29. Isaiah 66:18 As in LXX; know not found in MT
  30. Isaiah 66:18 Lit it is coming
  31. Isaiah 66:19 As in LXX; MT Pul
  32. Isaiah 66:19 As in LXX; MT those who draw the bow
  33. Isaiah 66:19 I.e., Greece
  34. Isaiah 66:23 Lit flesh
  35. Isaiah 66:24 Lit flesh

Judgment and Salvation

65 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
    I was found by those who did not seek me.(A)
To a nation(B) that did not call on my name,(C)
    I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
All day long I have held out my hands
    to an obstinate people,(D)
who walk in ways not good,
    pursuing their own imaginations(E)
a people who continually provoke me
    to my very face,(F)
offering sacrifices in gardens(G)
    and burning incense(H) on altars of brick;
who sit among the graves(I)
    and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
who eat the flesh of pigs,(J)
    and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,
    for I am too sacred(K) for you!’
Such people are smoke(L) in my nostrils,
    a fire that keeps burning all day.

“See, it stands written before me:
    I will not keep silent(M) but will pay back(N) in full;
    I will pay it back into their laps(O)
both your sins(P) and the sins of your ancestors,”(Q)
    says the Lord.
“Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains
    and defied me on the hills,(R)
I will measure into their laps
    the full payment(S) for their former deeds.”

This is what the Lord says:

“As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes(T)
    and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it,
    there is still a blessing in it,’
so will I do in behalf of my servants;(U)
    I will not destroy them all.
I will bring forth descendants(V) from Jacob,
    and from Judah those who will possess(W) my mountains;
my chosen(X) people will inherit them,
    and there will my servants live.(Y)
10 Sharon(Z) will become a pasture for flocks,(AA)
    and the Valley of Achor(AB) a resting place for herds,
    for my people who seek(AC) me.

11 “But as for you who forsake(AD) the Lord
    and forget my holy mountain,(AE)
who spread a table for Fortune
    and fill bowls of mixed wine(AF) for Destiny,
12 I will destine you for the sword,(AG)
    and all of you will fall in the slaughter;(AH)
for I called but you did not answer,(AI)
    I spoke but you did not listen.(AJ)
You did evil in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.”(AK)

13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“My servants will eat,(AL)
    but you will go hungry;(AM)
my servants will drink,(AN)
    but you will go thirsty;(AO)
my servants will rejoice,(AP)
    but you will be put to shame.(AQ)
14 My servants will sing(AR)
    out of the joy of their hearts,
but you will cry out(AS)
    from anguish of heart
    and wail in brokenness of spirit.
15 You will leave your name
    for my chosen ones to use in their curses;(AT)
the Sovereign Lord will put you to death,
    but to his servants he will give another name.(AU)
16 Whoever invokes a blessing(AV) in the land
    will do so by the one true God;(AW)
whoever takes an oath in the land
    will swear(AX) by the one true God.
For the past troubles(AY) will be forgotten
    and hidden from my eyes.

New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.(AZ)
The former things will not be remembered,(BA)
    nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice(BB) forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem(BC) to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice(BD) over Jerusalem
    and take delight(BE) in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying(BF)
    will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it
    an infant(BG) who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not live out his years;(BH)
the one who dies at a hundred
    will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred
    will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses(BI) and dwell in them;
    they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.(BJ)
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,(BK)
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,(BL)
    so will be the days(BM) of my people;
my chosen(BN) ones will long enjoy
    the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,(BO)
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;(BP)
for they will be a people blessed(BQ) by the Lord,
    they and their descendants(BR) with them.
24 Before they call(BS) I will answer;(BT)
    while they are still speaking(BU) I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb(BV) will feed together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox,(BW)
    and dust will be the serpent’s(BX) food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,”(BY)
says the Lord.

Judgment and Hope

66 This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,(BZ)
    and the earth is my footstool.(CA)
Where is the house(CB) you will build for me?
    Where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things,(CC)
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,(CD)
    and who tremble at my word.(CE)
But whoever sacrifices a bull(CF)
    is like one who kills a person,
and whoever offers a lamb
    is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever makes a grain offering
    is like one who presents pig’s(CG) blood,
and whoever burns memorial incense(CH)
    is like one who worships an idol.
They have chosen their own ways,(CI)
    and they delight in their abominations;(CJ)
so I also will choose harsh treatment for them
    and will bring on them what they dread.(CK)
For when I called, no one answered,(CL)
    when I spoke, no one listened.
They did evil(CM) in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.”(CN)

Hear the word of the Lord,
    you who tremble at his word:(CO)
“Your own people who hate(CP) you,
    and exclude you because of my name, have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified,
    that we may see your joy!’
    Yet they will be put to shame.(CQ)
Hear that uproar from the city,
    hear that noise from the temple!
It is the sound(CR) of the Lord
    repaying(CS) his enemies all they deserve.

“Before she goes into labor,(CT)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.(CU)
Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen(CV) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day(CW)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.(CX)
Do I bring to the moment of birth(CY)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice(CZ) with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love(DA) her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn(DB) over her.
11 For you will nurse(DC) and be satisfied
    at her comforting breasts;(DD)
you will drink deeply
    and delight in her overflowing abundance.”(DE)

12 For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace(DF) to her like a river,(DG)
    and the wealth(DH) of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried(DI) on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
13 As a mother comforts her child,(DJ)
    so will I comfort(DK) you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice(DL)
    and you will flourish(DM) like grass;
the hand(DN) of the Lord will be made known to his servants,(DO)
    but his fury(DP) will be shown to his foes.
15 See, the Lord is coming with fire,(DQ)
    and his chariots(DR) are like a whirlwind;(DS)
he will bring down his anger with fury,
    and his rebuke(DT) with flames of fire.
16 For with fire(DU) and with his sword(DV)
    the Lord will execute judgment(DW) on all people,
    and many will be those slain(DX) by the Lord.

17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens,(DY) following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs,(DZ) rats(EA) and other unclean things—they will meet their end(EB) together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.

18 “And I, because of what they have planned and done,(EC) am about to come[b] and gather the people of all nations(ED) and languages, and they will come and see my glory.(EE)

19 “I will set a sign(EF) among them, and I will send some of those who survive(EG) to the nations—to Tarshish,(EH) to the Libyans[c] and Lydians(EI) (famous as archers), to Tubal(EJ) and Greece,(EK) and to the distant islands(EL) that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.(EM) They will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 And they will bring(EN) all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain(EO) in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,”(EP) says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.(EQ) 21 And I will select some of them also to be priests(ER) and Levites,” says the Lord.

22 “As the new heavens and the new earth(ES) that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure.(ET) 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath(EU) to another, all mankind will come and bow down(EV) before me,” says the Lord. 24 “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies(EW) of those who rebelled(EX) against me; the worms(EY) that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched,(EZ) and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:20 Or the sinner who reaches
  2. Isaiah 66:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  3. Isaiah 66:19 Some Septuagint manuscripts Put (Libyans); Hebrew Pul