56 3 Don't let the eunuch say, “I am a dry tree.”
4 This is what I say to the eunuchs who choose the things that please me.
5 I'll give them my house and a name that's better than any son or daughter.
I'll give them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.
57 3 You sons of witches, adulterers, and whores!
4 Who are you laughing at? Why are you sticking out your tongue?
5 You have sex with idols on every mountain top and under every tree!
7-8 You've set your bed on the top of high mountains, where you have sex with my rivals.
You went to the king with ointment and perfume and debased yourself to hell.
19 I create the fruit of the lips.
21 There's no peace for the wicked.
58 1 Cry out loud. Lift up your voice like a trumpet.
6 Undo the heavy burdens, break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free.
7 Feed the hungry, open your house to the poor, and clothe the naked.
59 1 God's hand isn't shortened.
4 No one is calling for justice. Everyone's lying.
5 Vipers hatch from cockatrice eggs and whoever eats them dies.
60 2 Darkness will cover the earth.
12 Nations that refuse to serve you will be destroyed.
13 I will make the place of my feet glorious.
16 You will suck the milk of Gentiles and suck the breasts of kings.
19 The sun and moon will no longer produce light.
61 1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me.
2 Because God has anointed me to preach good news to the meek, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and release the prisoners.
3 And to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort those who mourn.
62 2 You'll have a new name, given to you by the mouth of God.
4 You'll no longer be called Forsaken. You'll be called Hephzibah, your land will be called Beulah, and the land will be married.
8 God has sworn by his right hand that he won't give your grain to your enemies or your wine to the sons of strangers.
63 1 Who is that guy coming from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?
2 Why are you dressed in red, like someone who has treaded a winepress?
3 I've trodden the winepress alone. I'll tread it in my anger and trample them in my fury. Their blood will be sprinkled on my clothes.
4 Vengeance is in my heart, and this is the year for it.
6 I'll trample the people in my fury.
17 God, why did you harden our hearts, and force us to make mistakes?
64 1 Tear the heavens apart, God, and come down to earth. Melt the mountains with your presence. 2 Boil the waters, to make your name known.
3 When you did terrible things, you came down and the mountains melted.
6 But we are unclean, filthy rags.
65 1 I sought out those who didn't seek me, and said to them, "Look at me, look at me."
2 But they were rebellious and thought their own thoughts. 4 They ate swine's flesh, and a broth of abominable things. 5 They say to me, "Stay away from me. I am holier than thou."
They are smoke in my nose.
11 You have forsaken me and my holy mountain. 12 So I will slaughter you with the sword.
13 My servants will eat, but still be hungry; drink, but still be thirsty; rejoice, but be ashamed.
14 My servants sing with joy, but you will cry and howl.
15 You'll be a curse to my chosen people. I'll kill you and call my servants by another name.
17 I'm creating a new heaven and a new earth. The old earth will be forgotten.
18 I'll create a new Jerusalem, where everyone will be happy. 19 There will be no more crying.
20 There will be no more childhood deaths, and people will have lifespans of at least 100 years. (Those who will die younger than 100 will be considered accursed. )
21 People will build houses and plant vineyards.
22 Their houses and crops won't be taken away by others. And people will live as long as trees.
23 There won't be any troublemakers.
25 Wolves and lambs will eat together, lions will eat straw, and snakes will eat dust. Everyone will get along on my holy mountain.
66 1 Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
But where is the house that you built for me?
3 Killing an ox is like killing a human.
Sacrificing a lamb is like cutting off a dog's neck.
Offering a sacrifice is like offering swine's blood.
And burning incense like blessing an idol.
They're all abominations.
10 Rejoice with Jerusalem. 11 Suck on her breasts until you are satisfied. 12 Suck and bounce on her knees.
15 God will come with his chariots like a whirlwind with fire and fury.
16 He will slaughter many people with his sword.
17 Those who purify themselves in gardens while eating swine flesh, the abomination, and mice will all be killed together.
18 I know all their thoughts. I'll gather everyone together and show them my glory.
19 I'll set a sign among them. 20 Everyone will come with their horses, chariots, mules, and swift beasts to my holy mountain. 23 They'll all come to worship me.
24 And they'll see all the carcasses of those who have offended me. The worms that are eating the dead bodies will never die. And the fire that burns them will never be extinguished. It'll be disgusting for everyone to see.
The worms that Isaiah is referring to here are not worms, but fly larvae or maggots. One of the most common is the Common Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia sericata), a blow fly that is common throughout the world and are used in maggot therapy.
Many other organisms (bacteria, flies, beetles, mites, moths, etc.) consume dead bodies. But the blow flies are among the most common.
Here's a photo of a Greenbottle Fly that I took in our yard.
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