Isaiah 66
Common English Bible
Where God may be found
66 The Lord says:
Heaven is my throne,
and earth is my footstool.
So where could you build a house for me,
and where could my resting place be?
2 My hand made all these things
and brought them into being, says the Lord.
But here is where I will look:
to the humble and contrite in spirit,
who tremble at my word.
3 The one who slaughters an ox kills a person;
the one who sacrifices a sheep breaks a dog’s neck;
the one who makes a grain offering offers swine’s blood;
the one who burns incense blesses an idol.
All these have chosen their own ways,
and prefer their detestable things.
4 So I too will choose to punish them,
to bring horrors upon them,
since I called and no one answered.
I spoke and no one heard,
but they did evil in my eyes.
What I didn’t want, they chose.
5 Listen to the Lord’s word,
you who tremble at his word:
Your family members, those who hate and exclude you because of my name,
have said, “Let the Lord be glorified;
let’s see your joy.”
But they will be ashamed.
6 The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple!
The sound of the Lord repaying his enemies what they have earned.
Mother Zion
7 Before she was in labor, she gave birth.
Before her pangs came upon her, she delivered a boy.
8 Whoever heard of such a thing?
Whoever saw such things as these?
Can a land come to birth in one day?
Can a nation be born all at once?
Yet as soon as birth pangs came,
Zion bore her children.
9 Will I open the womb and not bring to birth? says the Lord.
Will I, who create life, close the womb? says your God.
10 Celebrate with Jerusalem; be happy with her,
all you who love her!
Rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her,
11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied
from her comforting breasts,
that you may drink and be refreshed
from her full breasts.
12 The Lord says:
Look, I’m extending prosperity to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream.
You will nurse and be carried on the hip
and bounced upon the knee.
13 As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you;
in Jerusalem you will be comforted.
14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice;
your entire being will flourish like grass.
The Lord’s power will be known among his servants,
but his fury among his enemies.
15 The Lord will come with fire,
God’s chariots like a windstorm,
to repay in hot anger,
to rebuke with fiery flames.
16 With fire and with sword the Lord will judge all humanity;
many will be slain by the Lord.
17 Those who became holy and purify themselves, following their leader into the gardens,[a] who eat pork, detestable animals, and mice, will meet their end together, says the Lord.
Worshippers gathered from the nations
18 Because of their actions and thoughts, I’m coming to gather all nations and cultures. They will come to see my glory. 19 I will put a sign on them, by sending out some of the survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, and to the archers of Cilicia and Greece—distant coastlands that haven’t heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will declare my glory among the nations. 20 They will bring your family members from all nations as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels—to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing an offering in purified containers to the Lord’s house. 21 I will select some of them as priests and Levites, says the Lord.
22 As the new heavens and the new earth that I’m making will endure before me, says the Lord,
so your descendants and your name will endure.
23 From month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
all humanity will come to worship me, says the Lord.
24 They will go out and see the corpses
of the people who rebelled against me,
where their worm never dies, where their fire is never extinguished.
They will be a horror to everyone.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 66:17 Heb uncertain
Ésaïe 66
La Bible du Semeur
Le nouveau peuple de Dieu
Pour un vrai culte
66 Voici ce que dit l’Eternel :
Mon trône, c’est le ciel,
et mon marchepied, c’est la terre[a].
Quelle est donc la maison ╵que vous me bâtiriez,
quelle demeure ╵pour mon lieu de repos ?
2 Toutes ces choses, ╵c’est moi qui les ai faites[b]
et ainsi elles sont venues ╵à l’existence,
l’Eternel le déclare.
Voici sur qui je porterai ╵un regard favorable :
sur celui qui est humilié, ╵et qui a l’esprit abattu,
sur celui qui tremble à ma parole.
3 Celui qui sacrifie un bœuf,
tue aussi bien un homme ;
celui qui immole un agneau,
rompt la nuque à un chien ;
celui qui présente une offrande
offre du sang de porc ;
et celui qui fait brûler de l’encens,
c’est une idole qu’il bénit.
Comme ils ont tous choisi ╵de suivre leurs propres chemins
et qu’ils prennent plaisir ╵à leurs idoles ╵abominables,
4 je choisis moi aussi ╵de les abandonner ╵à leurs caprices,
et je les frapperai ╵des malheurs qu’ils redoutent,
puisque j’ai appelé
et que personne ╵n’a répondu,
oui, puisque j’ai parlé
et que personne ╵n’a écouté,
puisqu’ils ont fait ╵ce que je trouve mal,
et qu’ils se sont complu ╵à ce qui me déplaît.
5 Ecoutez la parole ╵de l’Eternel,
vous qui tremblez à sa parole :
Voici, ceux de vos frères
qui vous haïssent ╵et vous ont rejetés
à cause de mon nom
ont dit : « Que l’Eternel ╵manifeste sa gloire
afin que nous soyons ╵témoins de votre joie ! »
Mais ils perdront la face !
6 Ecoutez ce tumulte ╵s’élevant de la ville,
cette clameur ╵venant du Temple :
il s’agit de la voix de l’Eternel
qui fait payer ses ennemis ╵comme ils l’ont mérité.
Jérusalem rétablie
7 Avant d’être en travail,
Sion a enfanté :
avant d’éprouver des douleurs,
elle a donné le jour ╵à un garçon.
8 Qui donc a entendu ╵pareille chose,
et qui a déjà vu ╵chose semblable ?
Un pays peut-il naître ╵en un seul jour ?
Ou peut-on enfanter ╵un peuple en une seule fois ?
Or, à peine en travail ╵Sion a mis des fils au monde !
9 Eh quoi ! Déclencherais-je ╵le travail de la femme enceinte
sans la faire enfanter ?
dit l’Eternel.
Moi qui fais enfanter,
empêcherais-je ╵cette venue au monde ?
a dit ton Dieu.
10 Réjouissez-vous ╵avec Jérusalem,
et soyez tous dans l’allégresse ╵à son sujet,
vous qui l’aimez !
Prenez part à sa joie,
vous tous qui avez pris ╵le deuil à cause d’elle !
11 Car vous serez nourris ╵à son sein qui console
jusqu’à en être rassasiés,
et vous boirez, avec délices,
la plénitude de sa gloire !
12 Car ainsi parle l’Eternel :
Je vais faire affluer la paix ╵vers elle comme un fleuve,
la gloire des nations ╵tout comme un torrent qui déborde.
Vous serez allaités,
et portés sur la hanche,
bercés sur les genoux.
13 Comme un homme que sa mère console,
je vous consolerai.
Oui, dans Jérusalem, ╵vous serez consolés.
14 Vous en serez témoins ╵et votre cœur se réjouira,
votre corps reprendra vigueur ╵tout comme une herbe qui verdit.
Le jugement de Dieu
On verra l’Eternel intervenir ╵en faveur de ses serviteurs,
et manifester son indignation ╵contre ses ennemis.
15 Car l’Eternel
va venir dans le feu
et ses chars surviendront ╵comme un vent d’ouragan
pour verser sa colère ╵avec fureur
et pour accomplir ses menaces ╵avec d’ardentes flammes.
16 Car, c’est avec le feu ╵que l’Eternel ╵exercera son jugement
et avec son épée ╵qu’il châtiera tous les humains,
et l’Eternel fera ╵un très grand nombre de victimes.
17 Ceux qui se préparent et qui se purifient pour accéder aux jardins sacrés[c] suivant en procession celui qui se tient au milieu, et qui mangent du porc, des animaux immondes et même des souris, ceux-là périront tous ensemble, l’Eternel le déclare. 18 Car moi, je [connais bien[d]] leurs desseins et leurs actes.
Tous les peuples honoreront l’Eternel
Voici, je vais venir[e] rassembler tous les peuples et des gens de toutes langues. Ils viendront et verront ma gloire. 19 Je placerai un signe au milieu d’eux et j’enverrai certains de leurs rescapés[f] vers d’autres peuples, à Tarsis, Poul et Loud[g], dont les gens bandent l’arc, à Toubal, à Yavân[h] ; vers les îles et les régions côtières qui sont au loin, qui n’ont pas encore entendu parler de moi et n’ont pas vu ma gloire. Ils feront connaître ma gloire à ces peuples. 20 Et ils ramèneront, de chez tous les peuples, tous ceux qui sont vos frères sur des chevaux, des chars ou des chariots couverts, sur le dos des mulets ou sur des dromadaires jusqu’à Jérusalem, à ma montagne sainte, comme une offrande à l’Eternel : ce sera une offrande, dit l’Eternel, semblable à celles qu’apportent les Israélites, dans des récipients purifiés, au temple de l’Eternel. 21 Et même, parmi eux, j’en prendrai certains pour être des prêtres ou des lévites, dit l’Eternel.
22 Comme le nouveau ciel et la nouvelle terre[i] que je vais faire subsisteront par-devant moi, l’Eternel le déclare, ainsi subsisteront votre postérité et votre nom. 23 Il adviendra alors que, régulièrement, à chaque nouvelle lune et à chaque sabbat, tous les humains viendront se prosterner devant moi, déclare l’Eternel. 24 Et quand ils sortiront, ils verront les cadavres des hommes qui se sont révoltés contre moi ; et le ver qui rongera ces hommes ne mourra pas, le feu qui les dévorera ne s’éteindra jamais[j], et ils feront horreur à tout être vivant.
Footnotes
- 66.1 Allusion en Mt 5.34-35 ; 23.22.
- 66.2 Les v. 1-2 sont cités en Ac 7.49-50.
- 66.17 Allusion à des cérémonies païennes pour lesquelles les participants se préparent par divers rites de purification (voir 65.3, 5).
- 66.18 Les mots entre crochets manquent dans l’hébreu. Le texte semble corrompu car il manque le verbe.
- 66.18 D’après l’ancienne version grecque, la version syriaque et la Vulgate. Le texte hébreu traditionnel est obscur.
- 66.19 D’autres comprennent : des rescapés de mon peuple.
- 66.19 Tarsis: l’Espagne. Poul et Loud sont deux peuples de l’Afrique (Somalie et Libye).
- 66.19 Toubal: peuple d’Asie Mineure au sud-est de la mer Noire. Yavân: la Grèce et ses îles.
- 66.22 Voir Es 65.17 ; 2 P 3.13 ; Ap 21.1.
- 66.24 Allusion en Mc 9.48.
Isaiah 66
King James Version
66 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
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