1
Thussays the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool*. Wherethen is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
2
"For My handmadeallthesethings, Thus allthesethingscame into being," declares the LORD. "But to thisone I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and whotrembles at My word.
3
"But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog'sneck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine'sblood; He who burnsincense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their souldelights in their abominations,
4
So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but nooneanswered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they didevil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."
5
Hear the word of the LORD, you whotremble at His word: "Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name'ssake, Have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.' But they will be put to shame.
8
"Who has heardsuch a thing? Who has seensuch things? Can a land be born in oneday? Can a nation be broughtforthall at once*? As soon as Ziontravailed, she alsobroughtforth her sons.
12
For thussays the LORD, "Behold, I extendpeace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowingstream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.
14
Then you will see this, and your heart will be glad, And your bones will flourish like the newgrass; And the hand of the LORD will be madeknown to His servants, But He will be indignanttoward His enemies.
17
"Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens, Followingone in the center, Who eatswine'sflesh, detestablethings and mice, Will come to an endaltogether," declares the LORD.
19
"I will set a sign among them and will sendsurvivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distantcoastlands that have neitherheard My famenorseen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations.
20
"Then they shall bringall your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holymountainJerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the sons of Israelbring their grain offering in a cleanvessel to the house of the LORD.
24
"Then they will goforth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm will not die And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an abhorrence to allmankind."