NET Bible | International Standard Version |
1This is what the LORD says: "The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest? | 1This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you would build for me, and where will my resting place be? |
2My hand made them; that is how they came to be," says the LORD. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say. | 2All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But this is the one to whom I will look favorably: to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my message. |
3The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog's neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig's blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices. | 3"Whoever slaughters an ox is just like one who kills a human being; whoever sacrifices a lamb is just like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is just like one who offers pig's blood; and whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense is just like one who blesses an idol. Yes, these have chosen their own ways, and they take delight in their contaminated actions. |
4So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me." | 4Therefore I, too, will choose harsh treatment for them, and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn't listen; but they did what I consider to be evil, and chose what doesn't please me." |
5Hear the word of the LORD, you who respect what he has to say! Your countrymen, who hate you and exclude you, supposedly for the sake of my name, say, "May the LORD be glorified, then we will witness your joy." But they will be put to shame. | 5"Hear this message from the LORD, you who tremble at his words: "Your own brothers who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said: 'Let the LORD be glorified; he will see your joy,' yet it is they who will be put to shame. |
6The sound of battle comes from the city; the sound comes from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD paying back his enemies. | 6"Listen to that uproar in the city! Listen to that noise from the Temple! It is the sound of the LORD paying back retribution to his enemies! |
7Before she goes into labor, she gives birth! Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy! | 7 "Before she goes into labor she gives birth; before her pains come upon her she has delivered a son. |
8Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen this? Can a country be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born in a single moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons! | 8Who has ever heard of such a thing? And who ever sees such things? Can a country be born in a single day, or can a nation be brought forth in a single moment? Yet no sooner was Zion in labor than she delivered her children. |
9"Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?" asks the LORD. "Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?" asks your God. | 9Am I to open the womb and not deliver?" asks the LORD. "And when I bring to delivery, am I to close the womb?" asks your God. |
10Be happy for Jerusalem and rejoice with her, all you who love her! Share in her great joy, all you who have mourned over her! | 10"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be happy for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in gladness, all you who mourn over her, |
11For you will nurse from her satisfying breasts and be nourished; you will feed with joy from her milk-filled breasts. | 11so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her consoling breasts, and so that you may drink deeply and take delight from her glorious bosom." |
12For this is what the LORD says: "Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees. | 12This is what the LORD says: "See, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; and you will nurse, and you will be carried on her hip, and bounced upon her knees. |
13As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem." | 13Like a child whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. |
14When you see this, you will be happy, and you will be revived. The LORD will reveal his power to his servants and his anger to his enemies. | 14And when you look, your hearts will rejoice and your bodies will flourish like grass; and it will be made known that the LORD's hand is with his servants, but his fury is with his enemies. |
15For look, the LORD comes with fire, his chariots come like a windstorm, to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows. | 15"Take notice! The LORD will come with fire, and his chariot will be like a whirlwind, to pay back his anger—yes, his anger!— in fury, and his menacing rebukes in flames of fire. |
16For the LORD judges all humanity with fire and his sword; the LORD will kill many. | 16For with fire and with his sword the LORD will proceed to judgment on all humanity, and those slain by the LORD will be many." |
17"As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice--they will all be destroyed together," says the LORD. | 17"Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves, following the one at the center of those who eat the meat of pigs, disgusting things, and rats, are all alike," says the LORD. |
18"I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor. | 18"But as for me, I know their actions and their thoughts. Come and gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory. |
19I will perform a mighty act among them and then send some of those who remain to the nations--to Tarshish, Pul, Lud (known for its archers), Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor. | 19"I will put up signs among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations—to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, (who draw the bow), to Tubal and Greece, to the far off coastlands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. Then they will proclaim my glory among the nations. |
20They will bring back all your countrymen from all the nations as an offering to the LORD. They will bring them on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels to my holy hill Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the Israelites bring offerings to the LORD's temple in ritually pure containers. | 20They will bring all—yes, all!— of your kindred from all the nations to my holy mountain Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, and on mules—yes, even on mules!— and on camels," says the LORD, "just as the Israelis bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the LORD's house. |
21And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites," says the LORD. | 21Then I will also select some of them for myself as priests and as Levites," says the LORD. |
22"For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me," says the LORD, "so your descendants and your name will remain. | 22"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I am about to make will endure before me," says the LORD, "so will your descendants and your name endure. |
23From one month to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to worship me," says the LORD. | 23And from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all humanity will come to worship before me," says the LORD. |
24"They will go out and observe the corpses of those who rebelled against me, for the maggots that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not die out. All people will find the sight abhorrent." | 24"Then they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will not die, nor will their fire be extinguished, and they will remain an object of revulsion to all humanity." |
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