Isaiah 66

New Living Translation

66 This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?
    Could you build me such a resting place?
²My hands have made both heaven and earth;
    they and everything in them are mine.^[a]
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
    who tremble at my word.
³But those who choose their own ways—
    delighting in their detestable sins—
    will not have their offerings accepted.
When such people sacrifice a bull,
    it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice.
When they sacrifice a lamb,
    it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog!
When they bring an offering of grain,
    they might as well offer the blood of a pig.
When they burn frankincense,
    it’s as if they had blessed an idol.
⁴I will send them great trouble—
    all the things they feared.
For when I called, they did not answer.
    When I spoke, they did not listen.
They deliberately sinned before my very eyes
    and chose to do what they know I despise.”

⁵Hear this message from the Lord,
    all you who tremble at his words:
“Your own people hate you
    and throw you out for being loyal to my name.
‘Let the Lord be honored!’ they scoff.
    ‘Be joyful in him!’
    But they will be put to shame.
⁶What is all the commotion in the city?
    What is that terrible noise from the Temple?
It is the voice of the Lord
    taking vengeance against his enemies.

⁷“Before the birth pains even begin,
    Jerusalem gives birth to a son.
⁸Who has ever seen anything as strange as this?
    Who ever heard of such a thing?
Has a nation ever been born in a single day?
    Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?
But by the time Jerusalem’s^[b] birth pains begin,
    her children will be born.
⁹Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth
    and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord.
“No! I would never keep this nation from being born,”
    says your God.

¹⁰“Rejoice with Jerusalem!
    Be glad with her, all you who love her
    and all you who mourn for her.
¹¹Drink deeply of her glory
    even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts.”

¹²This is what the Lord says:
“I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity.
    The wealth of the nations will flow to her.
Her children will be nursed at her breasts,
    carried in her arms, and held on her lap.
¹³I will comfort you there in Jerusalem
    as a mother comforts her child.”

¹⁴When you see these things, your heart will rejoice.
    You will flourish like the grass!
Everyone will see the Lord’s hand of blessing on his servants—
    and his anger against his enemies.
¹⁵See, the Lord is coming with fire,
    and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind.
He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger
    and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.
¹⁶The Lord will punish the world by fire
    and by his sword.
He will judge the earth,
    and many will be killed by him.

¹⁷“Those who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves in a sacred garden with its idol in the center—feasting on pork and rats and other detestable meats—will come to a terrible end,” says the Lord.

¹⁸“I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. ¹⁹I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans^[c] and Lydians^[d] (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece,^[e] and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. ²⁰They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord. They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. ²¹“And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the Lord, have spoken!

²²“As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain,
    so will you always be my people,
with a name that will never disappear,”
    says the Lord.
²³“All humanity will come to worship me
    from week to week
    and from month to month.
²⁴And as they go out, they will see
    the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me.
For the worms that devour them will never die,
    and the fire that burns them will never go out.
All who pass by
    will view them with utter horror.”

Footnotes

66:2 As in Greek, Latin, and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads these things are.
66:8 Hebrew Zion’s.
66:19a As in some Greek manuscripts, which read Put [that is, Libya]; Hebrew reads Pul.
66:19b Hebrew Lud.
66:19c Hebrew Javan.

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?

²For 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.

³He 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.

⁴I 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.

⁵Hear 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.

⁶A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

⁷Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

⁸Who 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.

⁹Shall 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.

¹⁰Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

¹¹That 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.

¹²For 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.

¹³As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

¹⁴And 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.

¹⁵For, 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.

¹⁶For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

¹⁷They 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.

¹⁸For 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.

¹⁹And 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.

²⁰And 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.

²¹And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.

²²For 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.

²³And 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.

²⁴And 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.

Isaiah 66

New King James Version

True Worship and False

66 Thus says the Lord:

^(A)“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
²For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
^(B)“But on this one will I look:
^(C)On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.

³“He^(D) who kills a bull is as if he slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he ^(E)breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood;
He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol.
Just as they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
⁴So will I choose their delusions,
And bring their fears on them;
^(F)Because, when I called, no one answered,
When I spoke they did not hear;
But they did evil before My eyes,
And chose that in which I do not delight.”

The Lord Vindicates Zion

⁵Hear the word of the Lord,
You who tremble at His word:
“Your brethren who ^(G)hated you,
Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said,
^(H)‘Let the Lord be glorified,
That ^(I)we may see your joy.’
But they shall be ashamed.”

⁶The sound of noise from the city!
A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord,
Who fully repays His enemies!

⁷“Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
⁸Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.
⁹Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord.
“Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
¹⁰“Rejoice with Jerusalem,
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
¹¹That you may feed and be satisfied
With the consolation of her bosom,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted
With the abundance of her glory.”

¹²For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, ^(J)I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall ^(K)feed;
On her sides shall you be ^(L)carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
¹³As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will ^(M)comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

The Reign and Indignation of God

¹⁴When you see this, your heart shall rejoice,
And ^(N)your bones shall flourish like grass;
The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
And His indignation to His enemies.
¹⁵^(O)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.
¹⁶For by fire and by ^(P)His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be ^(Q)many.

¹⁷“Those^(R) who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
^[a]After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall ^[b]be consumed together,” says the Lord.

¹⁸“For I know their works and their ^(S)thoughts. It shall be that I will ^(T)gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. ¹⁹^(U)I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and ^[c]Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. ^(V)And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. ²⁰Then they shall ^(W)bring all your brethren ^(X)for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. ²¹And I will also take some of them for ^(Y)priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

²²“For as ^(Z)the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
²³And ^(AA)it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
^(AB)All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

²⁴“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their ^(AC)worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Footnotes

Isaiah 66:17 Lit. After one
Isaiah 66:17 come to an end
Isaiah 66:19 So with MT, Tg.; LXX Put (cf. Jer. 46:9)

Isaiah 66

EasyEnglish Bible

The Lord is a great Judge

66 This is what the Lord says:

‘Heaven is my throne.
    The earth is the place where I put my feet.
So you could not build a house for me to live in.
    Where would I lie down to rest?
²I made all these things with my own hands.
    That is how everything began.’

The Lord says,

‘I am pleased with people who are humble.
Those people are sorry when they do wrong things.
    They respect my teaching.
³You may kill a bull as a sacrifice to me,
    but you might also kill a man.
You may offer a lamb to me as a sacrifice,
    but you might also break a dog's neck to offer to your idols.
You may give me a grain offering,
    but you also offer pigs' blood.
You may burn incense to worship me
    but you also worship false gods.
Yes, these people have chosen how they want to live.
    They love to do these disgusting things.
⁴So I will cause great trouble to come to them.
    It will be the trouble that they are so afraid of.
When I called out to them,
    nobody answered me.
When I spoke to them,
    nobody listened.
They did evil things against me.
    They chose to do things that I would hate.’

⁵Hear this message from the Lord, you people who respect his teaching. Some of your own people hate you. They throw you out, because you are faithful to me. They laugh at you and they say, ‘Let the Lord show how great he is! We want to see him make you happy!’

But it is those people who will be ashamed.

⁶Listen to the loud noise that is coming from the city! It is a noise that comes from the temple. The Lord is punishing his enemies as they deserve. That is what is making the noise!

⁷What is happening? Zion is giving birth to a son before she has her birth pains! ⁸Nobody has ever heard of anything like that. Nobody has ever seen that happen before. Can a country be born in just one day? Can a nation be born in a moment? But as soon as Zion's birth pains begin, she has already given birth to her children!

⁹The Lord your God says, ‘When I bring a baby to the moment of birth, the child is always born. I do not stop its birth.’

¹⁰All you people who love Jerusalem, join together with its people and be happy. You have been sad to see what has happened to the city, but now you should shout with joy! ¹¹Jerusalem will take care of you like a mother. She will give you all that you need, like a mother that feeds her baby with milk. The great blessing that comes from her full breasts will make you very happy.

¹²The Lord says,

‘Look! I will give peace to Jerusalem,
    like a great river.
Riches from other nations will pour into the city,
    like a stream that is full of water.
Jerusalem will take care of you like a mother that feeds her baby.
    She will carry you in her arms,
    and she will hold you on her knees.
¹³I will comfort you,
    as a mother comforts her child.
As you live in Jerusalem,
    you will be happy again.’

¹⁴And when you see these things happen, you will feel very happy! You will become strong and healthy, like fresh grass. The Lord's servants will know that he is there to bless them. But his enemies will see that he is angry with them.

¹⁵Look! The Lord is coming with fire. His chariots will blow in like a strong storm. People will see his great anger, as he comes to punish his enemies with flames of fire. ¹⁶The Lord will use fire and his sword to judge all people. The Lord will kill many people.

¹⁷The Lord says, ‘I will destroy people who prepare themselves to worship their false gods. They make themselves clean and they follow one another into their special gardens. They eat unclean meat from pigs and rats and other disgusting animals. They will all come to their deaths together. ¹⁸I know everything that they do and everything that they think. So I will come. I will bring together the people from all nations and those who speak all languages. I will show them how great I am.

¹⁹I will do a great thing among them, to show them my power. I will send some of the people who are still alive to other nations. They will go to:

Tarshish,

Libya,

Lydia (where their soldiers shoot arrows very well),

Tubal,

Greece,

and lands far away, where people have never heard about me and they do not know how great I am.

Those people will tell other nations about my great glory.’

²⁰The Lord says, ‘They will bring back all your relatives who still live in other countries. They will bring them to my holy hill in Jerusalem, as a gift to me, the Lord. They will come on horses, in chariots, in carts, on mules and on camels. They will bring them in the way that the Israelites bring grain offerings to me in my temple. They bring their offerings in holy dishes.’

²¹The Lord says, ‘I will choose some of them to be priests. And I will choose some of them to serve me as Levites.’

²²The Lord says, ‘The new heavens and the new earth that I will make will always be there. In the same way, your descendants and your family name will always continue.’

²³The Lord says, ‘Everybody will come to worship me. They will come at each New Moon and on every Sabbath day. ²⁴When they go out of the city, they will see the dead bodies of the people who turned against me. In that heap of bodies, the worms never die and the fire never stops burning.^[a] Everybody will see that it is disgusting.’