1 Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
and so all these things came to be,
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;
he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations;
and bring their fears upon them,
because when I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my eyes
and chose that in which I did not delight.”
you who tremble at his word:
“Your brothers who hate you
and cast you out for my name’s sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
that we may see your joy’;
but it is they who shall be put to shame.
A sound from the temple!
The sound of the Lord,
rendering recompense to his enemies!
7 “Before she was in labor
she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
she delivered a son.
Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For as soon as Zion was in labor
she brought forth her children.
says the Lord;
“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
says your God.
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her;
from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
from her glorious abundance.”a
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
your bones shall flourish like the grass;
and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,
and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.
15 “For behold, the Lord will come in fire,
and his chariots like the whirlwind,
to render his anger in fury,
and his rebuke with flames of fire.
and by his sword, with all flesh;
and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
that I make
shall remain before me, says the Lord,
so shall your offspring and your name remain.
and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
all flesh shall come to worship before me,
declares the Lord.