Isaiah 65

International Standard Version

65 “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.
² I held out my hands all day long
    to a disobedient^[b] people,
who walk in a way that isn’t good,
    following their own inclinations—
³ a people who continually provoke me to my face;
    they^[c] keep sacrificing in gardens
        and waving their hands^[d] over stone^[e] altars;
⁴ who sit among graves,
    and spend the night in secret places;
who eat pigs’ meat,
    with the broth^[f] of detestable things in^[g] their pots;
⁵ who say, ‘Keep to yourself!’
    ‘Don’t touch^[h] me!’ and ‘I am^[i] too holy for you!’

⁸ This 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.
⁹ I’ll bring forth descendants from Jacob,
    and from Judah they^[o] will inherit^[p] my mountains;
my chosen people will inherit it,
    and my servants will live there.
¹⁰ Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
    and the Valley of Achor a fold for herds,^[q]
        for my people who have sought me.
¹¹ But as for you who forsake the Lord,
    who forget my holy mountain,
who spread a table for Fortune^[r]
    and^[s] fill drink offerings^[t] for Destiny,^[u]
12 I’ll consign^[v] 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.”

¹³ Therefore, this is what the Lord^[w] 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.
¹⁴ My servants will sing in gladness^[x] of heart,
    but you’ll cry for help^[y] from anguish of heart,
        and you’ll howl from brokenness of spirit.
¹⁵ You’ll leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse,
    and the Lord God will put you to death permanently.^[z]
16 Then whoever takes an oath^[aa] 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.

¹⁷ Take 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.
¹⁸ But be glad^[ab] and rejoice^[ac] forever
    in what I am creating,
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
    and its people as a delight.
¹⁹ I’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.