THUS saith the
LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:
where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place
of my rest?
2 For all those things
hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but
to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a
contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
3 He that killeth
an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if
he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered
swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea,
they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their
abominations.
4 I also will
choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I
called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil
before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word
of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that
cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall
appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of
noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that
rendereth recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she
travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man
child.
8 Who hath heard
such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth
in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion
travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring
to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to
bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
10 Rejoice ye with
Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with
her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may
suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk
out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith
the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the
Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her
sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his
mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in
Jerusalem.
14 And when ye see
this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an
herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his
indignation toward his enemies.
15 For, behold,
the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render
his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and
by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD
shall be many.
17 They that
sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree
in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall
be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I know
their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations
and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19 And I will set
a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to
Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to
the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory;
and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall
bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations
upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift
beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of
Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
21 And I will also
take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22 For as the new
heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the
LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall
come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to
another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24 And they shall
go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against
me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and
they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.