Self-interpreting Bible

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Isaiah 66

1God declareth that he will accept no other service but that of an humble and contrite spirit. 5The faithful are foretold the confusion of their enemies. 7The marvellous growth of the church, 10and the blessings that belong to it. 15God's severe judgments against the wicked. 18The gathering of the believing Jews and Gentiles into one church, where they shall together worship God, and see the destruction of the wicked.

1 THUS saith the LORD, aThe heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

2 For ball those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but cto this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and dtrembleth at my word.

3 eHe that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a 1lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an *oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that 2burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I falso will choose their 3delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; gbecause when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

5 ¶Hear the word of the LORD, ye that htremble at his word; Your ibrethren that hated you, that jcast you out for my name's sake, said, kLet the LORD be glorified: but lhe shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

6 mA voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

7 nBefore she *travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? oShall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion *travailed, she brought forth her children.

9 pShall I bring to the birth, and not 4cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

10 qRejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

11 That rye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the 5abundance of her glory.

12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, sI will extend peace to her like a river, and tthe glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: uthen shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

13 vAs one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 And wwhen ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and xthe hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

15 For, behold, ythe LORD will come with fire, and with zhis chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16 aFor by fire and bby his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and cthe slain of the LORD shall be many.

17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves din the gardens behind one tree 6in the midst, eeating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

18 fFor I know their works and their thoughts: git shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and hthey shall come, and see my glory.

19 And iI will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, jto Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

20 And kthey shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in 7*litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

21 And I will also take of them for lpriests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

22 For as mthe new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so nshall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, othat 8from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

24 And they shall go forth, and plook upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for qtheir worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; rand they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.