The Word Brings Salvation (Isaiah 65:1–16)
1 ULT Brothers, the good pleasure of my heart and my prayer to God{ is} on behalf of them for salvation. BSB BSB: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
2 ULT For I testify about them that they have a zeal of God, but not according to full knowledge. BSB BSB: For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
3 ULT For not knowing about the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God. BSB BSB: Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4 ULT For Christ{ is} the completion of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes. BSB BSB: For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 ULT For Moses writes{ about} the righteousness that{ is} from the law:“The man having done these things will live by it.” BSB BSB: For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
6 ULT But the righteousness by faith says thus,“Do not say in your heart,‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down); BSB BSB: But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 ULT or,“Who will descend into the abyss?”(that is, to bring Christ up from dead ones). BSB BSB: or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 ULT But what does it say?“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the word of faith, which we proclaim. BSB BSB: But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 ULT For if with your mouth you confess,“Jesus{ is} Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from dead ones, you will be saved. BSB BSB: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 ULT For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses to salvation. BSB BSB: For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
11 ULT For the scripture says,“Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame.” BSB BSB: It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
12 ULT For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord{ is} of all, being rich to all the ones calling on him. BSB BSB: For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
14 ULT How then would they call on{ him} in whom they have not believed? And how would they believe in{ him} whom they have not heard? And how would they hear without someone preaching? BSB BSB: How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
15 ULT And how would they preach, unless they would be sent? Just as it is written,“How beautiful{ are} the feet of the ones proclaiming good news{ of} good things!” BSB BSB: And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 ULT But not all of them obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,“Lord, who has believed our report?” BSB BSB: But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
17 ULT So this faith{ is} by hearing, and this hearing through the word of Christ. BSB BSB: Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18 ULT But I say,“Did they certainly not hear?” Yes, indeed.“Their sound went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” BSB BSB: But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
19 ULT But I say,“Did Israel certainly not know?” First Moses says,“I myself will provoke you to jealousy by a non- nation; by means of a senseless nation, I will provoke you to anger.” BSB BSB: I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”
20 ULT Now Isaiah is very bold, and he says,“I was found by the ones not seeking me; I appeared to the ones not asking for me.” BSB BSB: And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 ULT But to Israel he says,“The whole day I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contradictory people.” BSB BSB: But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.