Isaiah 65:1-16

New International Version

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.’
²All day long I have held out my hands
    to an obstinate people,^(D)
who walk in ways not good,
    pursuing their own imaginations^(E)—
³a people who continually provoke me
    to my very face,^(F)
offering sacrifices in gardens^(G)
    and burning incense^(H) on altars of brick;
⁴who 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;
⁵who 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.

⁶“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)—
⁷both 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.”

⁸This 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.
⁹I 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)
¹⁰Sharon^(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,
¹²I 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)

¹³Therefore 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)
¹⁴My 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.
¹⁵You 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)
¹⁶Whoever 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.

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Proverbs 31:10-31

New International Version

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

¹⁰^[a]A wife of noble character^(A) who can find?^(B)
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹Her husband^(C) has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.^(D)
¹²She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.^(E)
¹⁴She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.^(F)
²¹When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²²She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders^(G) of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.^(H)
²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise^(I) at the city gate.