Page:JPS-1917-Universal.djvu/579

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ISAIAH
65.16

65I gave access to them that asked not for Me,
I was at hand to them that sought Me not;
I said: 'Behold Me, behold Me',
Unto a nation that was not called by My name.
2I have spread out My hands all the day
Unto a rebellious people,
That walk in a way that is not good,
After their own thoughts;
3A people that provoke Me
To My face continually,
That sacrifice in gardens,
And burn incense upon bricks;
4That sit among the graves,
And lodge in the vaults;
That eat swine's flesh,
And broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5That say: 'Stand by thyself,
Come not near to me, for I am holier than thou';
These are a smoke in My nose,
A fire that burneth all the day.
6Behold, it is written before Me;
I will not keep silence, except I have requited,
Yea, I will requite into their bosom,
7Your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together,
Saith the Lord, that have offered upon the mountains,
And blasphemed Me upon the hills;
Therefore will I first measure their wage into their bosom.
8Thus saith the Lord:
As, when wine is found in the cluster,
One saith: 'Destroy it not,
For a blessing is in it';
So will I do for My servants' sakes,
That I may not destroy all.
9And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob,
And out of Judah an inheritor of My mountains;
And Mine elect shall inherit it,
And My servants shall dwell there.
10And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks,
And the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in,
For My people that have sought Me.
11But ye that forsake the Lord,
That forget My holy mountain,
That prepare a table for Fortune,
And that offer mingled wine in full measure unto Destiny,
12I will destine you to the sword,
And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter;
Because when I called, ye did not answer,
When I spoke, ye did not hear;
But ye did that which was evil in Mine eyes,
And chose that wherein I delighted not.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord God:
Behold, My servants shall eat,
But ye shall be hungry;
Behold, My servants shall drink,
But ye shall be thirsty;
Behold, My servants shall rejoice,
But ye shall be ashamed;
14Behold, My servants shall sing
For joy of heart,
But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart,
And shall wail for vexation of spirit.
15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto Mine elect:
'So may the Lord God slay thee';
But He shall call His servants by another name;
16So that he who blesseth himself in the earth
Shall bless himself by the God of truth;
And he that sweareth in the earth

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