Heaven Is My Throne

1This is what the LORD says:
“Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

2Has not My hand made all these things? ²³⁸And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
who trembles at My word.

3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

4So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

5You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD:
“Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’
But they will be put to shame.”

6Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!

Rejoice with Jerusalem

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

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

9Shall 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 at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance.

12For this is what the LORD says:
“I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees.

13As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you,
and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

14When you see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.

Final Judgments against the Wicked

15For behold, the LORD will come with fire— His chariots are like a whirlwind— to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.

16For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh,
and many will be slain by the LORD.

17“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.

18“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming ²³⁹to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

19I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands ²⁴⁰far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory.
So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.

20And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.”

21“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, ²⁴¹which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.

23From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

24“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, ²⁴²and they will be a horror to all mankind.”