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1 The
LORD says:
“Heaven is my
throne, and the
earth is my
footstool.
What kind of
house will you
build to me?
Where will I
rest?
2 For
my hand has
made all these
things,
and so all
these things came
to be,” says
the LORD:
“but I will
look to this
man,
even to he
who is poor
and of a
contrite spirit,
and who trembles
at my word.
3 He
who kills an
ox is as
he who kills
a man;
he who sacrifices
a lamb, as
he who breaks
a dog’s neck;
he who offers
an offering, as
he who offers
pig’s blood;
he who burns
frankincense, as
he who blesses
an idol.
Yes, they
have chosen their
own ways,
and their soul
delights in their
abominations.
4 I
also will choose
their delusions,
and will bring
their fears on
them,
because when I
called, no one
answered;
when I spoke,
they didn’t listen,
but they did
that which was
evil in my
eyes,
and chose that
in which I didn’t
delight.”
5 Hear
the LORD’s word,
you who tremble
at his word:
“Your brothers who
hate you,
who cast you
out for my
name’s sake, have
said,
‘Let the LORD be
glorified,
that we may
see your joy;’
but it is
those who shall
be disappointed.
6 A
voice of tumult
from the city,
a voice from
the temple,
a voice of
the LORD that
repays his enemies
what they deserve.
7 “Before
she travailed, she
gave birth.
Before her
pain came, she
delivered a son.
8 Who
has heard of
such a thing?
Who has seen
such things?
Shall a land be
born in one
day?
Shall a nation
be born at
once?
For as soon
as Zion travailed,
she gave birth
to her children.
9 Shall
I bring to
the birth, and
not cause to be
delivered?” says the
LORD.
“Shall I who cause
to give birth
shut the womb?” says
your God.
10 “Rejoice
with Jerusalem,
and be glad
for her, all
you who love
her.
Rejoice for joy
with her, all
you who mourn
over her;
11 that you
may nurse and
be satisfied at
the comforting
breasts;
that you may
drink deeply,
and be delighted
with the abundance
of her glory.”
12 For
the LORD says, “Behold, I will extend
peace to her
like a river,
and the glory
of the nations
like an
overflowing stream,
and you will
nurse.
You will be
carried on her
side,
and will be
dandled on her
knees.
13 As
one whom his mother
comforts,
so I will
comfort you.
You will be
comforted in
Jerusalem.”
14 You
will see it,
and your heart
shall rejoice,
and your bones
will flourish like
the tender grass.
The LORD’s hand
will be known
among his servants;
and he will
have indignation
against his
enemies.
15 For,
behold, the LORD
will come
with fire,
and his chariots
will be like
the whirlwind;
to render his
anger with fierceness,
and his rebuke
with flames
of fire.
16 For
the LORD will
execute judgment
by fire and by
his sword on
all flesh;
and those slain
by the LORD
will be many.
17 “Those who
sanctify themselves
and purify
themselves to go
to the gardens,
following one in
the middle, eating
pig’s meat,
abominable things,
and the mouse,
they shall come
to an end
together,” says
the LORD.
18 “For
I know their works
and their thoughts.
The time comes that
I will gather
all nations and
languages, and
they will come,
and will see
my glory.
19 “I
will set a sign
among them, and
I will send
those who escape
of them to
the nations, to
Tarshish, Pul, and
Lud, who draw
the bow, to
Tubal and Javan,
to far-away islands, who
have not heard
my fame, nor
have seen my
glory; and they
shall declare my
glory among the
nations.
20 They
shall bring all
your brothers out
of all the
nations for an
offering to the
LORD, on horses,
in chariots, in
litters, on mules,
and on camels,
to my holy
mountain Jerusalem, says
the LORD, as
the children of
Israel bring their
offering in a
clean vessel into
the LORD’s house.
21 Of
them I will
also select
priests and
Levites,” says the
LORD.
22 “For
as the new
heavens and the
new earth, which
I will make,
shall remain
before me,” says
the LORD, “so
your offspring and
your name shall
remain.
23 It
shall happen that
from one new
moon to another,
and from one
Sabbath to another,
all flesh will
come to worship
before me,” says
the LORD.
24 “They
will go out,
and look at
the dead bodies
of the men
who have
transgressed against
me; for their
worm will not
die, nor will
their fire be
quenched, and they
will be loathsome
to all mankind.”