Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 65

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

*I am searched for by those who didn't look for me. I am found by those who weren't seeking me. I told the people, who were not known by my name, "Look at me, look at me."

2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

*I've stretched out my hands to a stubborn people every day, who follow a path not good, guided by their own thoughts.

3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

*A people constantly making me angry by their actions; they sacrifice and light incense at brick altars in gardens.

4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

*Which stay near tombs and live in memorials, who eat pig meat, and have dishes filled with detestable items.

5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

*They say, "Stay away from me; I'm purer than you." They are like an annoying smell and a constant fire in my life.

6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

*Look, it's written that I won't stay quiet. I will repay them, and give them what they deserve in their chest area.

7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

*The Lord says that you and your ancestors' sins, which include worshiping other gods in the mountains and speaking against me on the hills, will be punished by having your past actions brought back to you.

8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

*The Lord says, "Like how new grape juice stays with the grapes, and someone says not to spoil it because it has a blessing in it, I will also protect my people so I don't completely destroy them."

9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

*I will create descendants from Jacob's family, and from Judah's family those who will possess the mountains. My chosen people will inherit it, and my servants will live there.

10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

*Sharon will become a pasture for sheep, and the Valley of Achor will be a resting spot for cattle. This will happen for my people who have searched for me.

11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

*But you are those who leave God behind, who forget my sacred hill, who set up a table for that group, and who provide the drink offering to that amount.

12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

*So, I will make you face many deaths by sword, and you will all bow down to be killed. This is because when I called, you didn't answer; when I spoke, you didn't listen. Instead, you did bad things in front of me and chose what I didn't like.

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

*So, God says this: My people will have food, but you won't. My people will have water to drink, but you won't. My people will be happy and not feel embarrassed, but you'll be ashamed.

14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

*Look, my followers will happily sing from their hearts, but you will sadly cry because of your sadness, and also loudly complain due to frustration.

15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:

*You will be known as a curse for God's chosen people. The Lord will kill you and have his servants use a different name.

16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

*If someone praises or swears by something on Earth, they should do it by the true God, because past problems are forgotten and hidden from our sight.

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

*"Look, I am making new skies and a new land; the old ones won't be thought of or remembered."

18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

*But be happy and celebrate forever in what I create, because I am creating Jerusalem as a time of joy and her people as a source of happiness.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

*I will be happy in Jerusalem and feel joy with my people. There will be no more sadness or crying heard there.

20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

*No more babies will be born or elderly people will live longer; instead, a child will only live up to 100 years, while a wicked person who lives to be 100 will still face punishment.

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

*They will construct homes and live in them. They will also grow grape gardens and enjoy their grapes.

22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

*They can't make homes for others to live in or grow food for others to eat. Because just like a tree lives for many years, my people will live long and enjoy what they create. My chosen ones will have these things for a long time.

23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

*They won't work hard for nothing or have problems from their efforts. They are descendants of God's blessed people, and their children will be with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

*It means that as soon as people start talking, God will already be answering them, even before they finish speaking.

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

*The wolf and the lamb will eat together, and the lion will eat like a cow: the snake will eat dirt. They won't harm anything on God's special mountain, promises the LORD.

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