Isaiah 65:1–9

A Rebellious People

1 “I permitted Myself to be sought by athose who did not ask for Me;

I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.

I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’

To a nation which bdid not call on My name.

2 “aI have spread out My hands all day long to a brebellious people,

Who walk in the way which is not good, 1following their own cthoughts,

3 A people who continually aprovoke Me to My face,

Offering sacrifices in bgardens and cburning incense on bricks;

4 Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places;

Who aeat swine’s flesh,

And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.

5 “Who say, ‘aKeep to yourself, do not come near me,

For I am holier than you!’

These are smoke in My 1nostrils,

A fire that burns all the day.

6 “Behold, it is written before Me,

I will anot keep silent, but bI will repay;

I will even repay into their bosom,

7 Both 1their own ainiquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the Lord.

“Because they have bburned incense on the mountains

And cscorned Me on the hills,

Therefore I will dmeasure their former work into their bosom.”

8 Thus says the Lord,

“As the new wine is found in the cluster,

And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is 1benefit in it,’

So I will act on behalf of My servants

In order anot to destroy 2all of them.

9 “I will bring forth aoffspring from Jacob,

And an bheir of My mountains from Judah;

Even cMy chosen ones shall inherit it,

And dMy servants will dwell there.