Judgment and Salvation

65 (A)I was ready to be sought by (B)those who did not ask for me;
    I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
    to a nation that was not called by[a] my name.
(C)I spread out my hands all the day
    to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
    following their own devices;
a people who provoke me
    to my face continually,
(D)sacrificing in gardens
    and making offerings on bricks;
who sit in tombs,
    and spend the night in secret places;
(E)who eat pig's flesh,
    and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;
who say, “Keep to yourself,
    do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
(F)These are a smoke in my nostrils,
    a fire that burns all the day.
Behold, (G)it is written before me:
    (H)“I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
(I)I will indeed repay into their lap
    both your iniquities (J)and your fathers' iniquities together,
says the Lord;
(K)because they made offerings on the mountains
    (L)and insulted me on the hills,
I will measure into their lap
    payment for their former deeds.”[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:1 Or that did not call upon
  2. Isaiah 65:7 Or I will first measure their payment into their lap

Judgment for idolators

65 I was ready to respond to those who didn’t ask.
    I was ready to be found by those who didn’t look for me.
I said, “I’m here! I’m here!” to a nation
    that didn’t call on my name.
I extended my hands all day
    to a rebellious people
        walking in a way that isn’t good,
        following their own plans;
    people who provoke me to my face continually,
        sacrificing in gardens and burning incense on bricks,
    who sit in tombs
        and spend the night among rocks;[a]
    who eat swine’s flesh
        with broth of unclean meat in their bowls;
    who say, “Keep to yourself!
    Keep away from me! I’m too holy for you.”
These people ignite my anger
    like a fire that burns all day.
Look, this stands written before me.
    I won’t be silent, but I will repay;
    I will repay in full measure
    your sins and the sins of your ancestors as well,
        says the Lord.
Since they burned incense on the mountains,
    and mocked me in the hills,
I will count out to them
    full payment for their actions.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:4 Or in guarded places