Isaiah 66

1Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?

1This is what the LORD says: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house could you build for me? Where would I find a place to rest?

2For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.

2My own hand made all these things, and that is how they came to be, says the LORD. But I will look with favor on the person who is humble and broken in spirit, and who trembles when I speak.

3He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that breaketh a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as he that offereth swine’s blood; he that burneth frankincense, as he that blesseth an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations:

3Anyone who kills an ox for sacrifice is no better than someone who kills a human. Anyone who sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog’s neck. Anyone who brings a grain offering is like someone who offers pig’s blood. Anyone who burns incense is like someone who praises an idol. They have chosen their own ways and take pleasure in their disgusting practices.

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 that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

4So I will choose to punish them harshly and bring their fears upon them. This is because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. They did what I said was evil and chose things that do not please me.

5Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, Let Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy; but it is they that shall be put to shame.

5Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his message: Your own people who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified so we can see your joy!' But they are the ones who will be put to shame.

6A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompense to his enemies.

6Listen! There is a loud noise from the city and a voice from the temple. It is the voice of the LORD paying back his enemies what they deserve.

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

7Before she went into labor, she gave birth. Before her pain began, she delivered a son.

8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

8Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen anything like this? Can a country be born in a single day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? Yet as soon as Zion went into labor, she gave birth to her children.

9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God.

9Would I bring a mother to the point of birth and not let the baby be born? asks the LORD. Would I, the one who causes the birth, close up the womb? asks your God.

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

10Celebrate with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourned over 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.

11For you will nurse and be satisfied by her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing glory.

12For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.

12For this is what the LORD says: I will make peace flow to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations will come like a flooding stream. You will nurse and be carried on her hip and bounced on her knees.

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

13As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you will find your comfort in Jerusalem.

14And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.

14When you see this, your heart will rejoice, and your body will flourish like green grass. The power of the LORD will be revealed to his servants, but his anger will be shown to his enemies.

15For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

15See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind. He will bring his anger with fury and his punishment with flames of fire.

16For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many.

16The LORD will execute judgment on all people by fire and by his sword, and many will be killed by the LORD.

17They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, saith Jehovah.

17Those who 'consecrate' and 'purify' themselves to go into the ritual gardens, following someone into the center and eating pig’s flesh, rats, and other disgusting things, will all perish together, says the LORD.

18For Iknowtheir works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

18I know their actions and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all nations and language groups; they will come and see my glory.

19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as 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 nations.

19I will perform a sign among them. I will send some of the survivors to nations like Tarshish, Put, and Lud (famous for archers), to Tubal and Javan, and to distant islands that have never heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will announce my glory among the nations.

20And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah.

20They will bring all your people from among all the nations as an offering to the LORD. They will come on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels to my holy mountain in Jerusalem, says the LORD. It will be like the Israelites bringing their grain offerings to the LORD’s temple in clean containers.

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

21And I will also choose some of them to be priests and Levites, says the LORD.

22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain.

22For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I create will last forever before me, says the LORD, so your name and your descendants will last forever.

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 Jehovah.

23From one New Moon festival to another and from one Sabbath to another, all humanity will come to worship before me, says the LORD.

24And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies 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.

24As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me. The worms that eat them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. They will be a horrible sight to all people.