Isaiah 65:8–16

⁸“But I will not destroy them all,”

says the Lord.

“For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones

(and someone will say, ‘Don’t throw them all away—

some of those grapes are good!’),

so I will not destroy all Israel.

For I still have true servants there.

⁹I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel

and of Judah to possess my land.

Those I choose will inherit it,

and my servants will live there.

¹⁰The plain of Sharon will again be filled with flocks

for my people who have searched for me,

and the valley of Achor will be a place to pasture herds.

¹¹“But because the rest of you have forsaken the Lord

and have forgotten his Temple,

and because you have prepared feasts to honor the god of Fate

and have offered mixed wine to the god of Destiny,

¹²now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword.

All of you will bow down before the executioner.

For when I called, you did not answer.

When I spoke, you did not listen.

You deliberately sinned—before my very eyes—

and chose to do what you know I despise.”

¹³Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“My servants will eat,

but you will starve.

My servants will drink,

but you will be thirsty.

My servants will rejoice,

but you will be sad and ashamed.

¹⁴My servants will sing for joy,

but you will cry in sorrow and despair.

¹⁵Your name will be a curse word among my people,

for the Sovereign Lord will destroy you

and will call his true servants by another name.

¹⁶All who invoke a blessing or take an oath

will do so by the God of truth.

For I will put aside my anger

and forget the evil of earlier days.