1Yahweh says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house could you build for me? Where would I rest?
2My hand made all these things, and that is how they all came to be,” says Yahweh. “But I will look favorably on those who are humble and have a repentant spirit, and who respect my word.
3Whoever kills an ox is like someone who kills a person. Whoever sacrifices a lamb is like someone who breaks a dog’s neck. Whoever brings an offering is like someone who offers pig’s blood. Whoever burns frankincense is like someone who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and they enjoy their detestable practices.
4So I will also choose to delude them and bring upon them the very things they fear. This is because when I called, no one answered. When I spoke, they didn’t listen. Instead, they did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not approve of.”
5Listen to Yahweh’s word, you who respect his word: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, so we can see your joy.’ But they are the ones who will be disappointed.
6There’s a loud noise from the city, a sound from the temple, the voice of Yahweh repaying his enemies what they deserve.
7“Before she went into labor, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son.
8Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation come into existence all at once? For as soon as Zion went into labor, she gave birth to her children.
9“Would I bring to the point of birth and not allow delivery?” says Yahweh. “Would I, who cause birth, then close the womb?” says your God.
10“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all of you who love her. Share in her great joy, all of you who mourned over her.
11So that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with her abundant glory.”
12For Yahweh says, “Look, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse. You will be carried on her side and gently bounced on her knees.
13Just as a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. You will find comfort in Jerusalem.”
14You will see it, and your heart will be glad, and your bones will grow strong like young grass. Yahweh will show his power to his servants, and he will be furious with his enemies.
15Watch out! Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots will be like a whirlwind. He will pour out his anger with intense fury and his punishment with flames of fire.
16Because Yahweh will judge all people with fire and with his sword; and many will be killed by Yahweh.
17“Those who set themselves apart and purify themselves to go into gardens, following one in the middle, eating pork, disgusting things, and mice—they will all come to an end together,” says Yahweh.
18“For I know their actions and their thoughts. The time is coming when I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.
19“I will place a sign among them, and I will send those who escape among them to the nations: to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who are skilled with the bow, to Tubal and Javan, and to the distant islands who have not heard of my fame or seen my glory; and they will announce my glory among the nations.
20They will bring all your relatives from all the nations as an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in carts, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem,” says Yahweh, “just as the people of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel to Yahweh’s house.”
21“From them I will also choose priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.
22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will remain before me,” says Yahweh, “so your descendants and your name will remain.”
23“It will happen that from one New Moon to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to worship before me,” says Yahweh.
24“They will go out and look at the dead bodies of the people who rebelled against me. For their worm will not die, nor will their fire go out, and they will be hateful to all humanity.”