Isaiah Chapter 65

Judgment and Final Salvation

                  65^:1“I let people look for me who weren’t asking about me;

                                    people that weren’t looking for me found me.

                              I said, ‘I’m here! Over here!’

                                    to people that didn’t call on me.

                              ² All day long I spread out my hands to a rebellious nation

                                          that follows its own ideas,

                                          ³ that continually angers me to my face

                                                   by offering sacrifices to idols in sacred gardens

                                                   and burning incense on pagan altars,

                                          ⁴ that sit in tombs and spend the night in secret places,

                                          that eat pig meat

                                                   and have broth from unclean meat in their pots,

                                          ⁵ that say, ‘Stay away from me;

don’t touch me;

I’m holier than you are!’

                              They’re smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day.      

Is 65:1-5

                              ⁶ I’ve written it out in front of me:

                                    I won’t stand idly by; I’ll repay.

                                    I’ll pay back into their laps

                                          ⁷ the sins they and their ancestors committed;

                                    since they’ve burned incense on the mountains

                                          and scorned me on the hills,

                                    I’ll measure out their former deeds into their arms,”

                                                            the LORD says.

⁸ “As new wine comes from clusters

                           and somebody says, 

                           ‘Don’t ruin it; it’s useful’;

            that’s what I’ll do with my servants

                  and not destroy them all.

      ⁹ I’ll preserve a remnant from Jacob and Judah

                  to inherit my mountains;

            my chosen ones will inherit it;

                  my servants will live there.

Is 65:6-9

      ¹⁰ Sharon will be a pasture for flocks;

            the Valley of Achor will be a resting place for herds—

                  for my people that look to me.

      ^11-12 But I’ll destine for the sword

                           you that leave me,

                  that forget my holy mountain,

                  that set a table for Fortune

                           and fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny. 

                  You’ll bow down to slaughter,

                         because I called, but you didn’t answer;

I spoke, but you ignored me;

                              you did what I consider sinful;

                                    you chose what I don’t delight in.”  

Is 65:10-12

      ¹³ So the Lord GOD says,

                  “My servants will eat, but you’ll be hungry;

                        my servants will drink, but you’ll be thirsty;

                        my servants will celebrate, but you’ll be humiliated;

                        ¹⁴ my servants will make a joyful sound with a happy heart,

                                                      but you’ll cry with a heavy heart

                                    and wail with a broken spirit.

      ¹⁵ The name you leave behind will be a curse to my chosen ones,

                                    and the Lord GOD will slay you;

                  but I’ll call my servants another name

                        ¹⁶ because those who bless themselves on earth

                                    will bless themselves by the true God;

                        the ones that take an oath in the land

                                    will swear by the true God;

                        because I’ll forget the former troubles

                                    and hide them from me.

Is 65:13-16

New Earth and Sky

      ¹⁷ “I’m creating a new earth and sky;

                  people won’t think about previous things anymore.

      ¹⁸ Be happy and celebrate forever in what I create,

                  because I’ll create Jerusalem for celebrating

                        and its people for happiness.

      ¹⁹ I’ll celebrate over Jerusalem

                  and be happy with my people;

            they won’t hear weeping and crying anymore.

      ²⁰ No longer will babies live just a few days,

                  or adults die young;

                        they’ll die when they’re 100;

            anybody that dies young will be considered cursed.

      ²¹ They’ll build houses and live in them,

                  plant vineyards and eat their fruit.                      

Is 65:17-21

      ²² They won’t build and someone else occupy them;

                  they won’t plant and somebody else eat the fruit.

            The lifetime of my people will be like the lifetime of a tree;

                  my chosen ones will enjoy what they make.

      ²³ They won’t work to no end

                  or have children that face catastrophes;

            they’ll be the offspring of people the LORD has blessed—

                  their descendants as well.

      ²⁴ Before they call, I’ll answer;

                  while they’re speaking, I’ll listen.

      ²⁵ Wolf and lamb will graze together;

                  a lion will eat straw like an ox,

                        but snakes will eat dust.

                  They won’t hurt anything in all my holy mountain,”

                                                the LORD says.                    

Is 65:22-25