Heaven is My Throne
1 The Lord says,
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house could you build me,
where I would rest?
2 For my hand has made all of these things,
and so all these things came to be,” says the Lord.
“But I will look upon this man:
he who is poor and contrite in spirit
and who trembles at my word.
3 But the one who kills an ox like one who kills a man,
who sacrifices a lamb like he who breaks a dog’s neck,
who offers an offering like he who offers pig’s blood,
who burns frankincense like he who blesses an idol,
indeed, they have chosen their own ways
and delight in their abominations.
4 I will choose their delusions
and will bring what they fear upon them,
because when I called, no one answered.
When I spoke, they did not listen,
but they did that which was evil in my eyes,
and chose that with which I was not pleased.”
5 Hear the word of the Lord, 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 them who will be disappointed.”
6 Listen! A sound of tumult is coming from the city,
a sound from the temple,
the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies what they deserve.
Rejoice with Jerusalem
7 “Before she was in labor, Zion gave birth.
Before her pain came, she delivered a son.
8 Who has heard of such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Could a land be born in one day?
Could a nation be born all at once?
For as soon as Zion’s labor began,
she gave birth to her children.
9 Would I bring to the point of birth,
and not deliver?” says the Lord.
“Would I who cause birth shut the womb?”
says your God.
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem,
and be glad for her,
all you who love her.
Rejoice with her,
all you who mourn over her.
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied
at comforting breasts,
that you may drink deeply,
and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”
12 For the Lord says,
“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 hand of the Lord will be known among his servants,
and he will have indignation against his enemies.
God’s Final Judgments against the Wicked
15 For 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 pagan gardens, behind one in their midst 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 is coming when 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 of them who escape, 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 as 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 Israelites bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. 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 will 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.”