Isaiah 66

Modern English Version

Heaven is My throne,
    and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is the house that you could build for Me?
    And where is the place of My rest?
² For My hand made all those things,
    thus all those things have come to be,
    says the Lord.

But to this man I will look,
    even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
    and trembles at My word.
³ He who kills a bull
    is as if he kills a man;
he who sacrifices a lamb,
    as if he breaks a dog’s neck;
he who offers a grain offering,
    as if he offers swine’s blood;
he who burns incense,
    as if he blesses an idol.
They have chosen their own ways,
    and their soul delights in their abominations;
⁴ I also will choose their punishments
    and will bring their fears on them,
because when I called, no one answered;
    when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did evil before My eyes
    and chose that in which I did not delight.

⁷ Before she was in labor,
    she gave birth;
before her pain came,
    she delivered a son.
⁸ Who has heard such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
    Shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
    she brought forth her sons.
⁹ Shall I bring to the point of birth
    and not cause delivery? says the Lord.
Shall I who cause delivery
    shut the womb? says your God.
¹⁰ Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice exceedingly with her,
    all you who mourn for her,
¹¹ that you may feed and be satisfied
    with her consoling breasts,
that you may feed
    and be delighted with the abundance of her bosom.

I will extend peace to her like a river
    and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream.
Then you shall nurse, you shall be carried on her sides,
    and dandled on her knees.
¹³ As one whom his mother comforts,
    so I will comfort you;
    and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.