Isaiah 65
65
1I let myself be consulted by people who weren't even asking me questions; I let myself be found by people who weren't even looking for me. To a nation that wasn't even calling for me, I said, “I'm here, I'm here!” 2I spread out my hands all day long, pleading with a stubborn people who follow bad ways, doing whatever they choose. 3These people are always making me angry, because they present sacrifices to idols in their sacred gardens, and offer incense on pagan altars made of brick. 4They spend the night among the graves and in caves, eating pork and cooking other unclean meats. 5They tell others, “Keep your distance! Don't come close to me as I'm too holy to be touched by you!” These people are like smoke in my nostrils, a stink burning all day long!
6Look—it's all written down right in front of me! I'm not going to keep quiet. I'm going to pay them back by throwing their punishment into their laps. 7I'm going to pay you back for both your own sins and the sins of your forefathers, says the Lord, because they burned incense on the mountains and ridiculed me on the hills. I'm going to measure into their laps full payment for what they've done.
8This is what the Lord says: It's like when there's a bit of juice left in a bunch of grapes and people say, “Don't get rid of it all; there's still some good in it.” I'll do the same for my servants—I won't destroy them all. 9I will make sure Jacob has descendants, and people from Judah who can take ownership of my mountain. My chosen ones, my servants, will own the land and live there. 10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to rest, for my people who follow me.
11But those of you who desert the Lord and forget about my holy mountain, who prepare feasts for the god of good luck,#65:11. “The god of good luck”: literally, “Gad,” a pagan god of good fortune. The name Baal-Gad occurs in Joshua 11:17 and Joshua 12:7, meaning “Lord Gad.” who fill jugs of mixed wine for the god of destiny,#65:11. “The god of destiny”: literally, “Meni,” a pagan god of fate. It is thought that the name comes from the Semitic word “to apportion,” meaning that this god determined the fates of human beings. 12I will make sure your destiny is to be killed by the sword. All of you will bow down to be slaughtered, because I called out to you but you didn't answer; I spoke to you, but you didn't listen. Instead you did what's evil in my sight, choosing to do what I hate.
13So this is what the Lord says, My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. My servants will celebrate, but you will feel ashamed. 14Listen! My servants will shout because they're so happy inside, but you will cry out in deepest pain, howling because your spirit is broken. 15Your name will only be used as a curse by my chosen ones, for the Lord God will kill you and give his servants another name. 16Whoever asks a blessing or takes an oath in the land will do so by the one true God, for I have forgotten the troubles of the past—I don't look on them anymore.
17Look! I'm going to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things won't be remembered—they won't cross anyone's mind! 18Be glad, and be happy forever and ever in what I'm going to create, for I will make Jerusalem a delightful place, and its people a real joy. 19I will be so happy over Jerusalem; I will celebrate among my people. The sound of weeping and cries for help won't ever be heard there again.
20No babies will die after just a few days, and no adults will die without having lived a long life.#65:20. But see 25:8. Those who reach a hundred will be thought of as just a child, and anyone who doesn't reach a hundred will be seen as being under a curse. 21They will build houses and live in them; they will eat the fruit of the vineyards they themselves planted. 22No longer will they build houses for others to live in; no longer will they plant for others to eat. For my people will live as long as trees do; my chosen ones will live long enough to enjoy all they've worked for. 23They won't work for nothing, and they won't have children destined for disaster. For they are people living under the blessing of the Lord, and their children will be too. 24I will reply even before they ask me. While they are still speaking, I will answer them! 25The wolf and the lamb will eat together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. The snakes will eat dust. Nothing will cause any harm or damage anywhere on my holy mountain. #65:25. See 11:9.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Isaiah 65
65
The Lord Will Punish the Guilty
1 #
Ro 10.20. I, the Lord, was ready
to answer even those
who were not asking
and to be found by those
who were not searching.
To a nation that refused
to worship me,#65.1 refused … me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
I said, “Here I am!”
2 #
Ro 10.21. All day long I have reached out
to stubborn and sinful people
going their own way.
3They keep making me angry
by sneering at me,
while offering sacrifices
to idols in gardens
and burning incense
to them on bricks.
4They spend their nights
hiding in burial caves;
they eat the meat of pigs,#65.4 burial … pigs: Coming in contact with the dead or eating the meat of pigs made a person unacceptable to God.
cooked in sauces
made of stuff unfit to eat.
5And then they say to others,
“Don't come near us!
We're dedicated to God.”
Such people are like smoke,
irritating my nose all day.
6I have written this down;
I won't keep silent.
I'll pay them back
just as their sins deserve.
7I, the Lord, will make them pay
for their sins and for those
of their ancestors—
they have disgraced me
by burning incense
on mountains.
8Here is what the Lord says:
A cluster of grapes
that produces wine
is worth keeping!
So, because of my servants,
I won't destroy everyone.
9I have chosen the people
of Israel and Judah,
and I will bless them
with many descendants.
They will settle here
in this land of mountains,
and it will be theirs.
10 #
Js 7.24-26. My people will worship me.
Then the coastlands of Sharon
and the land as far
as Achor Valley#65.10 coastlands of Sharon … Achor Valley: Sharon is the coastal plain on the west, and Achor Valley is in the east near Jericho. These two places stand for the whole country.
will turn into pastureland
where cattle and sheep
will feed and rest.
11What will I, the Lord, do
if any of you reject me
and my holy mountain?
What will happen to you
for offering food and wine
to the gods you call
“Good Luck” and “Fate”?
12Your luck will end!
I will see to it that you
are slaughtered with swords.
You refused to answer
when I called out;
you paid no attention
to my instructions.
Instead, you did what I hated,
knowing it was wrong.
13I, the Lord God, will give
food and drink to my servants,
and they will celebrate.
But all of you sinners
will go hungry and thirsty,
overcome with disgrace.
14My servants will laugh and sing,
but you will be sad
and cry out in pain.
15I, the Lord God, promise
to see that you are killed
and that my chosen servants use
your names as curse words.
But I will give new names#65.15 new names: The giving of a new name suggests the beginning of a new life.
to my servants.#65.15 But I … servants: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
16I am God! I can be trusted.
Your past troubles are gone;
I no longer think of them.
When you pray for someone
to receive a blessing,
or when you make a promise,
you must do it in my name.
I alone am the God
who can be trusted.
The Lord's New Creation
17 #
Is 66.22; 2 P 3.13; Rev 21.1. I am creating new heavens
and a new earth;
everything of the past
will be forgotten.
18Celebrate and be glad forever!
I am creating a Jerusalem,
full of happy people.
19 #
Rev 21.4. I will celebrate with Jerusalem
and all its people;
there will be no more crying
or sorrow in that city.
20No child will die in infancy;
everyone will live
a very long life.
Anyone a hundred years old
will be considered young,
and to die younger than that
will be considered a curse.
21My people will live
in the houses they build;
they will enjoy grapes
from their own vineyards.
22No one will take away
their homes or vineyards.
My chosen people will live
to be as old as trees,
and they will enjoy
what they have earned.
23Their work won't be wasted,
and their children won't die
of dreadful diseases.#65.23 their children … diseases: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
I will bless their children
and their grandchildren.
24I will answer their prayers
before they finish praying.
25 #
Is 11.6-9. Wolves and lambs
will graze together;
lions and oxen
will feed on straw.
Snakes will eat only dirt!
They won't bite or harm anyone
on my holy mountain.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
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