A NEW CREATION

17 “For I will create new heavens and a new earth;t

the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.

18 Then be glad and rejoice forever

in what I am creating;

for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy

and its people to be a delight.

19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem

and be glad in my people.

The sound of weeping and crying

will no longer be heard in her.a

20 In her, a nursing infant will no longer live

only a few days,A

or an old man not live out his days.

Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old will be mourned as a young man,B

and the one who misses a hundred years will be considered cursed.b

21 People will build houses and live in them;

they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.c

22 They will not build and others live in them;

they will not plant and others eat.

For my people’s lives will be

like the lifetime of a tree.d

My chosen ones will fully enjoy

the work of their hands.

23 They will not labor without successe

or bear children destined for disaster,

for they will be a people blessed by the Lord

along with their descendants.f

24 Even before they call, I will answer;g

while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,C

and the lion will eat straw like cattle,h

but the serpent’s food will be dust!i

They will not do what is evil or destroy

on my entire holy mountain,”j

says the Lord.