New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.(A)
The former things will not be remembered,(B)
    nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice(C) forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem(D) to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice(E) over Jerusalem
    and take delight(F) in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying(G)
    will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it
    an infant(H) who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not live out his years;(I)
the one who dies at a hundred
    will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred
    will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses(J) and dwell in them;
    they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.(K)
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,(L)
    or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,(M)
    so will be the days(N) of my people;
my chosen(O) ones will long enjoy
    the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,(P)
    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;(Q)
for they will be a people blessed(R) by the Lord,
    they and their descendants(S) with them.
24 Before they call(T) I will answer;(U)
    while they are still speaking(V) I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb(W) will feed together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox,(X)
    and dust will be the serpent’s(Y) food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,”(Z)
says the Lord.

Judgment and Hope

66 This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,(AA)
    and the earth is my footstool.(AB)
Where is the house(AC) you will build for me?
    Where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things,(AD)
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,(AE)
    and who tremble at my word.(AF)
But whoever sacrifices a bull(AG)
    is like one who kills a person,
and whoever offers a lamb
    is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
whoever makes a grain offering
    is like one who presents pig’s(AH) blood,
and whoever burns memorial incense(AI)
    is like one who worships an idol.
They have chosen their own ways,(AJ)
    and they delight in their abominations;(AK)
so I also will choose harsh treatment for them
    and will bring on them what they dread.(AL)
For when I called, no one answered,(AM)
    when I spoke, no one listened.
They did evil(AN) in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.”(AO)

Hear the word of the Lord,
    you who tremble at his word:(AP)
“Your own people who hate(AQ) you,
    and exclude you because of my name, have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified,
    that we may see your joy!’
    Yet they will be put to shame.(AR)
Hear that uproar from the city,
    hear that noise from the temple!
It is the sound(AS) of the Lord
    repaying(AT) his enemies all they deserve.

“Before she goes into labor,(AU)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.(AV)
Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen(AW) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day(AX)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.(AY)
Do I bring to the moment of birth(AZ)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice(BA) with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love(BB) her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn(BC) over her.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 65:20 Or the sinner who reaches

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