The Righteousness of God’s Judgment

65 “I was asought by those who did not ask for Me;

I was found by those who did not seek Me.

I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’

To a nation that bwas not called by My name.

2 cI have stretched out My hands all day long to a drebellious people,

Who ewalk in a way that is not good,

According to their own thoughts;

3 A people fwho provoke Me to anger continually to My face;

gWho sacrifice in gardens,

And burn incense on altars of brick;

4 hWho sit among the graves,

And spend the night in the tombs;

iWho eat swine’s flesh,

And the broth of 1abominable things is in their vessels;

5 jWho say, ‘Keep to yourself,

Do not come near me,

For I am holier than you!’

These 2are smoke in My nostrils,

A fire that burns all the day.

6 “Behold, kit is written before Me:

lI will not keep silence, mbut will repay—

Even repay into their bosom—

7 Your iniquities and nthe iniquities of your fathers together,”

Says the Lord,

o“Who have burned incense on the mountains

pAnd blasphemed Me on the hills;

Therefore I will measure 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 qa blessing is in it,’

So will I do for My servants’ sake,

That I may not destroy them rall.

9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,

And from Judah an heir of My mountains;

My select shall inherit it,

And My servants shall dwell there.

10 tSharon shall be a fold of flocks,

And uthe Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,

For My people who have vsought Me.

11 “But you are those who forsake the Lord,

Who forget wMy holy mountain,

Who prepare xa table for 3Gad,

And who furnish a drink offering for 4Meni.

12 Therefore I will number you for the sword,

And you shall all bow down to the slaughter;

yBecause, when I called, you did not answer;

When I spoke, you did not hear,

But did evil before My eyes,

And chose that in which I do not delight.”

13 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, My servants shall eat,

But you shall be hungry;

Behold, My servants shall drink,

But you shall be thirsty;

Behold, My servants shall rejoice,

But you shall be ashamed;

14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart,

But you shall cry for sorrow of heart,

And zwail for 5grief of spirit.

15 You shall leave your name aas a curse to bMy chosen;

For the Lord God will slay you,

And ccall His servants by another name;

16 dSo that he who blesses himself in the earth

Shall bless himself in the God of truth;

And ehe who swears in the earth

Shall swear by the God of truth;

Because the former troubles are forgotten,

And because they are hidden from My eyes.