God’s Response

1“I let myself be sought by those who didn’t ask for me;a

I let myself be found by those who didn’t seek me.

I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

to a nation that didn’t call on my name.

2I held out my hands all day long

to a disobedientb people,

who walk in a way that isn’t good,

following their own inclinations—

3a people who continually provoke me to my face;

theyc keep sacrificing in gardens

and waving their handsd over stonee altars;

4who sit among graves,

and spend the night in secret places;

who eat pigs’ meat,

with the brothf of detestable things ing their pots;

5who say, ‘Keep to yourself!’

‘Don’t touchh me!’ and ‘I ami too holy for you!’

“Such people are smoke in my nostrils,

a fire that keeps burning all day long.

6Watch out! It stands written before me:

‘I won’t keep silent, but I will pay back in full;

I’ll indeed repay intoj their laps

7both your iniquities and your ancestors’k iniquities together,’’

says the LORD.

“Because they offered incense on the mountains

and insulted me on hills,l

I’ll measure intom their laps

full payment for their earlier actions.”

A Remnant will be Preserved

8This is what the LORD says:

“Just as new wine is found in the cluster,

and people have said,n ‘Don’t destroy it,

for there is a gift in it,’

so I’ll act for my servants’ sake,

by not destroying them all.

9I’ll bring forth descendants from Jacob,

and from Judah theyo will inheritp my mountains;

my chosen people will inherit it,

and my servants will live there.

10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,

and the Valley of Achor a fold for herds,q

for my people who have sought me.

11But as for you who forsake the LORD,

who forget my holy mountain,

who spread a table for Fortuner

ands fill drink offeringst for Destiny,u

12I’ll consignv you to the sword,

and all of you will bend down for the slaughter—

because when I called, you didn’t answer,

when I spoke, you didn’t listen;

but you did what was evil in my sight,

and chose what I took no pleasure in.”

The Righteous and Wicked Contrasted

13Therefore, this is what the LORDw says:

“See, my servants will eat,

but you’ll go hungry;

my servants will drink,

but you’ll go thirsty;

my servants will rejoice,

but you’ll be put to shame.

14My servants will sing in gladnessx of heart,

but you’ll cry for helpy from anguish of heart,

and you’ll howl from brokenness of spirit.

15You’ll leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse,

and the Lord GOD will put you to death permanently.z

16Then whoever takes an oathaa by the God of faithfulness,

and whoever takes an oath in the land,

will swear by the God of faithfulness,

because the former troubles are forgotten

and are hidden from my eyes.

A New Universe

17Take notice! I’m about to create new heavens

and a new earth;

the former things won’t be remembered,

nor will they come to mind.

18But be gladbb and rejoicecc forever

in what I am creating,

for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,

and its people as a delight.

19I’ll rejoice over Jerusalem,

and take delight in my people;

no longer will the sound of weeping be heard in it,

nor the cry of distress.

20“Anddd there will no longer be in it

a young boyee who lives only a few days,

or an old person who does not live out his days;

for one who dies at a hundred years will be thought a mere youth,

and one who falls short of a hundred years will be considered accursed.

21Peopleff will build houses and live in them;

They’ll plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22They won’t build for others to inhabit;

they won’t plant for others to eat—

for like the lifetimegg of a tree,hh so will the lifetimeii of my people be,

and my chosen ones will long enjoyjj the work of their hands.

23They won’t toil in vain

nor bear children doomed to misfortune,

for they will be offspring blessedkk by the LORD,

they and their descendants with them.

24Before they call, I will answer,

while they are still speaking, I’ll hear.

25“The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox;

but as for the serpent—

its food will be dust!

They won’t harm or destroy

on my entire holy mountain,”

says the LORD.