Isaiah 66:12-17

66:12 For this is what the Lord says:

“Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river,

the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. ¹ 

You will nurse from her breast ²  and be carried at her side;

you will play on her knees.

66:13 As a mother consoles a child, ³ 

so I will console you,

and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

66:14 When you see this, you will be happy, ⁴ 

and you will be revived. ⁵ 

The Lord will reveal his power to his servants

and his anger to his enemies. ⁶ 

66:15 For look, the Lord comes with fire,

his chariots come like a windstorm, ⁷ 

to reveal his raging anger,

his battle cry, and his flaming arrows. ⁸ 

66:16 For the Lord judges all humanity ⁹ 

with fire and his sword;

the Lord will kill many. ¹⁰ 

66:17 “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, ¹¹  those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice ¹²  – they will all be destroyed together,” ¹³  says the Lord.

[66:12]  ¹ tn Heb “Look, I am ready to extend to her like a river prosperity [or “peace”], and like an overflowing stream, the riches of nations.”

[66:12]  ² tn The words “from her breast” are supplied in the translation for clarification (see v. 11).

[66:13]  ³ tn Heb “like a man whose mother comforts him.”

[66:14]  ⁵ tn “and you will see and your heart will be happy.”

[66:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “and your bones like grass will sprout.”

[66:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “and the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, and anger to his enemies.”

[66:15]  ⁷ sn Chariots are like a windstorm in their swift movement and in the way that they kick up dust.

[66:15]  ⁸ tn Heb “to cause to return with the rage of his anger, and his battle cry [or “rebuke”] with flames of fire.”

[66:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “flesh” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NIV “upon all men”; TEV “all the people of the world.”

[66:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “many are the slain of the Lord.”

[66:17]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the ones who consecrate themselves and the ones who purify themselves toward the orchards [or “gardens”] after the one in the midst.” The precise meaning of the statement is unclear, though it is obvious that some form of idolatry is in view.

[66:17]  ¹² tn Heb “ones who eat the flesh of the pig and the disgusting thing and the mouse.”

[66:17]  ¹³ tn Heb “together they will come to an end.”