Isaiah 65:1-9

GOD’S WORD Translation

65 I was ready to answer those who didn’t ask.
I was found by those who weren’t looking for me.
I said, “Here I am! Here I am!”
to a nation that didn’t worship me.
² I stretched out my hands all day long to stubborn people.
They chose to go the wrong direction.
They followed their own plans.
³ These people constantly and openly provoked me.
They offered sacrifices in gardens
and burnt incense on brick altars.
⁴ They sat among the graves and spent their nights in caves.
They ate pork and in their pots made broth from unclean foods.
⁵ They said, “Stay away! Don’t touch me!
I’m holier than you are.”
They have become like smoke in my nose,
like a smoldering fire all day long.

I will not be silent, but I will repay.
I will repay you in full.
⁷ I will repay you for your sins
and for the sins of your ancestors,” says the Lord.
They burnt incense on the mountains and slandered me on the hills,
so I will be the first to pay them back in full.

When someone finds juice for new wine in a cluster of grapes,
another person will say,
“Don’t destroy it, because there’s a blessing in it.”
In the same way, I will do this for my servants:
I will not destroy everything.
⁹ I will bring ⌞with me⌟ Jacob’s descendant,
one who will inherit my mountains from Judah.
My chosen ones will inherit them.
My servants will live there.