Isaiah 66:3-17

3One person slaughters an ox, another kills a person; one person sacrifices a lamb, another breaks a dog’s neck; one person offers a grain offering, another offers pig’s blood; one person offers incense, another praises an idol — all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abhorrent practices.

4So I will choose their punishment, and I will bring on them what they dread because I called and no one answered; I spoke and they did not listen; they did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not delight in.

5You who tremble at his word, hear the word of the Lord: “Your brothers who hate and exclude you for my name’s sake have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified so that we can see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”

6A sound of uproar from the city! A voice from the temple — the voice of the Lord, paying back his enemies what they deserve!

7Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons.

9“Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the Lord; “or will I who deliver, close the womb?” says your God.

10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her —

11so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast and drink deeply and delight yourselves from her glorious breasts.

12For this is what the Lord says: I will make peace flow to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flood; you will nurse and be carried on her hip and bounced on her lap.

13As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

14You will see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the Lord’s power will be revealed to his servants, but he will show his wrath against his enemies.

15Look, the Lord will come with fire  — his chariots are like the whirlwind  — to execute his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16For the Lord will execute judgment on all humanity with his fiery sword, and many will be slain by the Lord.

17“Those who dedicate and purify themselves to enter the groves following their leader, eating meat from pigs, vermin, and rats, will perish together.” This is the Lord’s declaration.