CHAP. 1
LXVI.

THUS saith JEHOVAH:

The heavens are my throne; and the earth is my footstool:

Where is this house, which ye build for me?

And where is this place of my rest?

2 For all these things my hand hath made;

3

And all these things are mine, saith JEHOVAH.

But such a one will I regard, even him that is humble,
And of a contrite spirit, and that revereth my word.
He that slayeth an ox, killeth a man ;

That sacrificeth a lamb, beheadeth a dog;

That maketh an oblation, [offereth] swine's blood;
That burneth incense, blesseth an idol :

Yea, they themselves have chosen their own ways;
And in their abominations their soul delighteth.

4 I will also choose their calamities;

And what they dread, I will bring upon them;
Because I called, and no one answered;

I spake, and they would not hear :

And they have done what is evil in my sight;

And that, in which I delighted not, they have chosen.

5 Hear ye the word of JEHOVAH, ye that revere his word:

Say ye to your brethren, that hate you;

And that thrust you out, for my name's sake:
JEHOVAH will be glorified, and he will appear;

To your joy [will he appear], and they shall be con-
founded.

6 A voice of tumult from the city! a voice from the temple!

7

The voice of JEHOVAH! rendering recompense to his

enemies.

Before she was in travail, she brought forth;

Before her pangs came, she was delivered of a male.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like of these things?

Is a country brought forth in one day?

Is a nation born in an instant?

M

For no sooner was Sion in travail, than she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith JEHOVAH :

Shall I, who beget, restrain the birth? saith thy God. 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and exult on her account, all ye that love her;

Be exceedingly joyful with her, all ye that mourn over her:

11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied, from the breast of her consolations;

12

That ye may draw forth the delicious nourishment from her abundant stores.

For thus saith JEHOVAH :

Behold, I spread over her prosperity, like the great river;

And like the overflowing stream the wealth of the nations :

And ye shall suck at the breast;

Ye shall be carried at the side;

And on the knees shall ye be dandled. 13 As one, whom his mother comforteth,

So will I comfort you;

And in Jerusalem shall

ye receive consolation.

14 And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice; And your bones shall flourish, like the green herb:

And the hand of JEHOVAH shall be manifested to his servants:

And he will be moved with indignation against his enemies.

15 For, behold! JEHOVAH shall come, as a fire;

And his chariot, as a whirlwind:

To breathe forth his anger in a burning heat,
And his rebuke in flames of fire.

16 For by fire shall JEHOVAH execute judgment;
And by his sword, upon all flesh:

17

And many shall be the slain of JEHOVAH.

They who sanctify themselves, and purify themselves, In the gardens, after the rites of Achad;

In the midst of those who eat swine's flesh,

And the abomination, and the field-mouse ;

Together shall they perish, saith JEHOVAH.

18 For I know their deeds, and their devices:

And I come to gather all the nations and tongues together;

And they shall come, and shall see my glory.

19. And I will impart to them a sign;

And of those that escape I will send to the nations:
To Tarshish, Phul, and Lud, who draw the bow;
Tubal, and Javan, the far distant coasts:

To those, who never heard my name;

And who never saw my glory :

And they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren,

From all the nations, for an oblation to JEHOVAH ;
On horses, and in litters, and in counes;

On mules, and on dromedaries;

To my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith JEHOVAH :
Like as the sons of Israel brought the oblation,
In pure vessels, to the house of JEHOVAH.

21 And of them will I also take,

For priests, and for Levites, saith JEHOVAH.

22 For like as the new heavens,

And the new earth, which I make,

Stand continually before me, saith JEHOVAH; So shall continue your seed, and your name. 23 And it shall be, from new moon to new moon, And from sabbath to sabbath;

All flesh shall come to worship before me, saith JEHO

VAH.

24 And they shall go forth, and shall see

The carcasses of the men who rebelled against me.

For their worm shall not die,

And their fire shall not be quenched;

And they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.

NOTES

ON

ISAIAH.

ISAIAH exercised the prophetical office during a long period of time, if he lived to the reign of Manasseh; for the lowest computation, beginning from the year in which Uzziah died, when some suppose him to have received his first appointment to that office, brings it to 61 years. But the tradition of the Jews, that he was put to death by Manasseh, is very uncertain; and one of their principal rabbins (Aben Ezra, Com. in Isa. i. 1.) seems rather to think that he died before Hezekiah; which is indeed more probable. It is however certain, that he lived at least to the 15th or 16th year of Hezekiah: this makes the least possible term of the duration of his prophetical office about 48 years. The time of the delivery of some of his prophecies is either expressly marked, or sufficiently clear from the history to which they relate: that of a few others may with some probability be deduced from internal marks; from expressions, descriptions, and circumstances interwoven. It may therefore be of some use in this respect, and for the better understanding of his prophecies in general, to give here a summary view of the history of his time.

The kingdom of Judah seems to have been in a more flourishing condition during the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, than at any other time after the revolt of the ten tribes. The former recovered the port of Elath on the Red Sea, which the Edomites had taken in the reign of Joram: he was successful in his wars with the Philistines, and took from them several cities, Gath, Jabneh, Ashdod; as likewise against some people of Arabia Deserta; and against the Ammonites, whom he compelled to pay him tribute. He repaired and improved the fortifications of Jerusalem; and