1. I was ready to answer those who didn’t ask.I was found by those who weren’t looking for me.I said, “Here I am! Here I am!”to a nation that didn’t worship me.
2. I stretched out my hands all day long to stubborn people.They chose to go the wrong direction.They followed their own plans.
3. These people constantly and openly provoked me.They offered sacrifices in gardensand burnt incense on brick altars.
4. They sat among the graves and spent their nights in caves.They ate pork and in their pots made broth from unclean foods.
5. They said, “Stay away! Don’t touch me!I’m holier than you are.”They have become like smoke in my nose,like a smoldering fire all day long.
6. “Look! It is written in front of me.I will not be silent, but I will repay.I will repay you in full.
7. I will repay you for your sinsand for the sins of your ancestors,” says the Lord.They burnt incense on the mountains and slandered me on the hills,so I will be the first to pay them back in full.
8. This is what the Lord says:When someone finds juice for new wine in a cluster of grapes,another person will say,“Don’t destroy it, because there’s a blessing in it.”In the same way, I will do this for my servants:I will not destroy everything.
9. I will bring ⌊with me⌋ Jacob’s descendant,one who will inherit my mountains from Judah.My chosen ones will inherit them.My servants will live there.