Isaiah 65

נִדְרַ֙שְׁתִּי֙ לְל֣וֹא שָׁאָ֔לוּ נִמְצֵ֖אתִי לְלֹ֣א בִקְשֻׁ֑נִי אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ הִנֵּ֣נִי הִנֵּ֔נִי אֶל־גּ֖וֹי לֹֽא־קֹרָ֥א בִשְׁמִֽי׃ I responded to^aI responded to Lit. “I let Myself be inquired of…” those who did not ask,
I was at hand to those who did not seek Me;
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
To a nation that did not invoke My name.

פֵּרַ֧שְׂתִּי יָדַ֛י כׇּל־הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־עַ֣ם סוֹרֵ֑ר הַהֹֽלְכִים֙ הַדֶּ֣רֶךְ לֹא־ט֔וֹב אַחַ֖ר מַחְשְׁבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ I constantly spread out My hands
To a disloyal people,
Who walk the way that is not good,
Following their own designs;

הָעָ֗ם הַמַּכְעִסִ֥ים אֹתִ֛י עַל־פָּנַ֖י תָּמִ֑יד זֹֽבְחִים֙ בַּגַּנּ֔וֹת וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים עַל־הַלְּבֵנִֽים׃ The people who provoke My anger,
Who continually, to My very face,
Sacrifice in gardens and burn incense on tiles;

הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בַּקְּבָרִ֔ים וּבַנְּצוּרִ֖ים יָלִ֑ינוּ הָאֹֽכְלִים֙ בְּשַׂ֣ר הַחֲזִ֔יר (ופרק) [וּמְרַ֥ק] פִּגֻּלִ֖ים כְּלֵיהֶֽם׃ Who sit inside tombs
And pass the night in secret places;
Who eat the flesh of swine,
With broth of unclean things in their bowls;

הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ קְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יךָ אַל־תִּגַּשׁ־בִּ֖י כִּ֣י קְדַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אֵ֚לֶּה עָשָׁ֣ן בְּאַפִּ֔י אֵ֥שׁ יֹקֶ֖דֶת כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ Who say, “Keep your distance! Don’t come closer!
For I would render you consecrated.”^bI would render you consecrated Taking qedashtikha as equivalent to qiddashtikha, cf. Ezek. 44.19; trad. “I am holier than thou.”
Such things make My anger rage,
Like fire blazing all day long.

הִנֵּ֥ה כְתוּבָ֖ה לְפָנָ֑י לֹ֤א אֶֽחֱשֶׁה֙ כִּ֣י אִם־שִׁלַּ֔מְתִּי וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֖י עַל־חֵיקָֽם׃ See, this is recorded before Me;
I will not stand idly by, but will repay,
Deliver their^ctheir Heb. “your.” sins^dtheir sins Moved up from v. 7 for clarity. into their bosom,

עֲ֠וֺנֹתֵיכֶ֠ם וַעֲוֺנֹ֨ת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם יַחְדָּו֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר קִטְּרוּ֙ עַל־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת חֵרְפ֑וּנִי וּמַדֹּתִ֧י פְעֻלָּתָ֛ם רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה (על) [אֶל־]חֵיקָֽם׃ {ס}         And the sins of their ancestors as well
—said GOD—
For they made offerings upon the mountains
And affronted Me upon the hills.
I will count out their recompense in full,^efull Taking riʼshonah as equivalent to be-roʼshah; cf. Lev. 5.24; Jer. 16.18. Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Into their bosoms.

כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א הַתִּירוֹשׁ֙ בָּֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל וְאָמַר֙ אַל־תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֔הוּ כִּ֥י בְרָכָ֖ה בּ֑וֹ כֵּ֤ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ לְמַ֣עַן עֲבָדַ֔י לְבִלְתִּ֖י הַֽשְׁחִ֥ית הַכֹּֽל׃ Thus said GOD:
As, when new wine is present in the cluster,
One says, “Don’t destroy it; there’s good in it,”
So will I do for the sake of My servants,
And not destroy everything.

וְהוֹצֵאתִ֤י מִֽיַּעֲקֹב֙ זֶ֔רַע וּמִֽיהוּדָ֖ה יוֹרֵ֣שׁ הָרָ֑י וִירֵשׁ֣וּהָ בְחִירַ֔י וַעֲבָדַ֖י יִשְׁכְּנוּ־שָֽׁמָּה׃ I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,
From Judah heirs to My mountains;
My chosen ones shall take possession,
My servants shall dwell thereon.

וְהָיָ֤ה הַשָּׁרוֹן֙ לִנְוֵה־צֹ֔אן וְעֵ֥מֶק עָכ֖וֹר לְרֵ֣בֶץ בָּקָ֑ר לְעַמִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּרָשֽׁוּנִי׃ Sharon^fSharon Emendation yields “Jeshimon,” the bleak southeast corner of the Jordan Valley; cf. Num. 21.20; 23.8. shall become a pasture for flocks,
And the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down,
For My people who seek Me.

וְאַתֶּם֙ עֹזְבֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה הַשְּׁכֵחִ֖ים אֶת־הַ֣ר קׇדְשִׁ֑י הַעֹרְכִ֤ים לַגַּד֙ שֻׁלְחָ֔ן וְהַֽמְמַלְאִ֖ים לַמְנִ֥י מִמְסָֽךְ׃ But as for you who forsake GOD,
Who ignore My holy mountain,
Who set a table for Luck^gLuck Name of a heathen deity.
And fill a mixing bowl for Destiny:^hDestiny Name of another heathen deity.

וּמָנִ֨יתִי אֶתְכֶ֜ם לַחֶ֗רֶב וְכֻלְּכֶם֙ לַטֶּ֣בַח תִּכְרָ֔עוּ יַ֤עַן קָרָ֙אתִי֙ וְלֹ֣א עֲנִיתֶ֔ם דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־חָפַ֖צְתִּי בְּחַרְתֶּֽם׃ {פ}
I will destine you for the sword,
You will all kneel down, to be slaughtered—
Because, when I called, you did not answer,
When I spoke, you would not listen.
You did what I hold evil,
And chose what I do not want.

לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה עֲבָדַ֤י ׀ יֹאכֵ֙לוּ֙ וְאַתֶּ֣ם תִּרְעָ֔בוּ הִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדַ֛י יִשְׁתּ֖וּ וְאַתֶּ֣ם תִּצְמָ֑אוּ הִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדַ֛י יִשְׂמָ֖חוּ וְאַתֶּ֥ם תֵּבֹֽשׁוּ׃ Assuredly, thus said my Sovereign GOD:
My servants shall eat, and you shall hunger;
My servants shall drink, and you shall thirst;
My servants shall rejoice, and you shall be shamed;

הִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדַ֛י יָרֹ֖נּוּ מִטּ֣וּב לֵ֑ב וְאַתֶּ֤ם תִּצְעֲקוּ֙ מִכְּאֵ֣ב לֵ֔ב וּמִשֵּׁ֥בֶר ר֖וּחַ תְּיֵלִֽילוּ׃ My servants shall shout in gladness,
And you shall cry out in anguish,
Howling in heartbreak.

וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֨ם שִׁמְכֶ֤ם לִשְׁבוּעָה֙ לִבְחִירַ֔י וֶהֱמִֽיתְךָ֖ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה וְלַעֲבָדָ֥יו יִקְרָ֖א שֵׁ֥ם אַחֵֽר׃ You shall leave behind a name
By which My chosen ones shall curse:
“So may our Sovereign GOD slay you!”
But MyⁱMy Heb. 3rd person. servants shall be given a different name.^jdifferent name I.e., a name to be used in blessing.

אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַמִּתְבָּרֵ֜ךְ בָּאָ֗רֶץ יִתְבָּרֵךְ֙ בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י אָמֵ֔ן וְהַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע בָּאָ֔רֶץ יִשָּׁבַ֖ע בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י אָמֵ֑ן כִּ֣י נִשְׁכְּח֗וּ הַצָּרוֹת֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹת וְכִ֥י נִסְתְּר֖וּ מֵֽעֵינָֽי׃ For whoever blesses themselves in the land
Shall bless themselves by the true God;
And whoever swears in the land
Shall swear by the true God.
The former troubles shall be forgotten,
Shall be hidden from My eyes.

כִּֽי־הִנְנִ֥י בוֹרֵ֛א שָׁמַ֥יִם חֲדָשִׁ֖ים וָאָ֣רֶץ חֲדָשָׁ֑ה וְלֹ֤א תִזָּכַ֙רְנָה֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹת וְלֹ֥א תַעֲלֶ֖ינָה עַל־לֵֽב׃ For behold! I am creating
A new heaven and a new earth;
The former things shall not be remembered,
They shall never come to mind.

כִּֽי־אִם־שִׂ֤ישֽׂוּ וְגִ֙ילוּ֙ עֲדֵי־עַ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲנִ֣י בוֹרֵ֑א כִּי֩ הִנְנִ֨י בוֹרֵ֧א אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם גִּילָ֖הֿ וְעַמָּ֥הּ מָשֽׂוֹשׂ׃ Be glad, then, and rejoice forever
In what I am creating.
For I shall create Jerusalem as a joy,
And her people as a delight;

וְגַלְתִּ֥י בִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וְשַׂשְׂתִּ֣י בְעַמִּ֑י וְלֹא־יִשָּׁמַ֥ע בָּהּ֙ ע֔וֹד ק֥וֹל בְּכִ֖י וְק֥וֹל זְעָקָֽה׃ And I will rejoice in Jerusalem
And delight in her people.
Never again shall be heard there
The sounds of weeping and wailing.

לֹא־יִהְיֶ֨ה מִשָּׁ֜ם ע֗וֹד ע֤וּל יָמִים֙ וְזָקֵ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְמַלֵּ֖א אֶת־יָמָ֑יו כִּ֣י הַנַּ֗עַר בֶּן־מֵאָ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ יָמ֔וּת וְהַ֣חוֹטֶ֔א בֶּן־מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה יְקֻלָּֽל׃ No more shall there be an infant or graybeard
Who does not live out their lifetime.
Someone who dies at a hundred years
Shall be reckoned a youth,
And one who fails to reach a hundred
Shall be reckoned accursed.

וּבָנ֥וּ בָתִּ֖ים וְיָשָׁ֑בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְאָכְל֖וּ פִּרְיָֽם׃ They shall build houses and dwell in them,
They shall plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit.

לֹ֤א יִבְנוּ֙ וְאַחֵ֣ר יֵשֵׁ֔ב לֹ֥א יִטְּע֖וּ וְאַחֵ֣ר יֹאכֵ֑ל כִּֽי־כִימֵ֤י הָעֵץ֙ יְמֵ֣י עַמִּ֔י וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶ֖ם יְבַלּ֥וּ בְחִירָֽי׃ They shall not build for others to dwell in,
Or plant for others to enjoy.
For the days of My people shall be
As long as the days of a tree,
My chosen ones shall outlive^koutlive Lit. “wear out.”
The work of their hands.

לֹ֤א יִֽיגְעוּ֙ לָרִ֔יק וְלֹ֥א יֵלְד֖וּ לַבֶּהָלָ֑ה כִּ֣י זֶ֜רַע בְּרוּכֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ הֵ֔מָּה וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֖ם אִתָּֽם׃ They shall not toil to no purpose;
They shall not bear children for terror,^lfor terror Emendation yields “in vain.”
But they shall be a people blessed by GOD,
And their offspring shall remain with them.

וְהָיָ֥ה טֶֽרֶם־יִקְרָ֖אוּ וַאֲנִ֣י אֶעֱנֶ֑ה ע֛וֹד הֵ֥ם מְדַבְּרִ֖ים וַאֲנִ֥י אֶשְׁמָֽע׃ Before they pray, I will answer;
While they are still speaking, I will respond.

זְאֵ֨ב וְטָלֶ֜ה יִרְע֣וּ כְאֶחָ֗ד וְאַרְיֵה֙ כַּבָּקָ֣ר יֹאכַל־תֶּ֔בֶן וְנָחָ֖שׁ עָפָ֣ר לַחְמ֑וֹ לֹֽא־יָרֵ֧עוּ וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁחִ֛יתוּ בְּכׇל־הַ֥ר קׇדְשִׁ֖י אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}         The wolf and the lamb shall graze together,
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
And the serpent’s food shall be earth.
In all My sacred mount^mMy sacred mount See note at 11.9.
Nothing evil or vile shall be done
—said GOD.