Today’s Scripture:

I was ready and willing to help before anyone even asked.        I was found by people who did not seek Me;    I showed My face and said, “Here I am! I am right here!”        to a nation which did not call on Me.[a]2     I kept extending Myself to a people who don’t care a whit.        All day long I opened my hands to those who constantly work against Me,    Those busy pursuing their own rotten path, inspired by their own rotten schemes.[b]3     These people continue to insult Me, right to My face,        pursuing other gods, sacrificing in gardens    And offering incense on altars made of bricks.4     They sit among the graves and spend their nights in secret rituals;        they eat the flesh of pigs and pollute their pots with unclean meats.5     They have the gall to say, “Oooh, not so close! I am holier than you!”        These unholy people are smoke in My nostrils,    A fire that burns and burns all day.6     Look and see what stands written before Me:        “I will not remain silent and watch this disgrace;    But I will pay them back for what they have done.        I will pour their pay directly into their laps.7     They will pay for their sins and the sins of their parents too.        For they turned to other gods, burned incense on the mountains    And insulted Me on the hillsides.        I will bring everything they deserve back to them, to their very core.”

8 This is what the Eternal has to say:

It’s like noticing the promise of new wine in a cluster of grapes.        One will say, “Don’t destroy them all; some of them are bound to be good.”    So for the sake of My servants,        I won’t destroy absolutely everyone.9     But I will bring up children from Jacob’s line to inherit this land.        To Jacob’s son Judah I will give My mountains.    These, My chosen ones, will inherit it;        these, My servants, will live there and call it home.10     From the plains of Sharon to the valley of Achor,        My people—who look to Me and no other—    Will have pasture for their sheep        and safe places for their herds.11     But those of you who ignore Me, the Eternal One—        who turn away from My sanctuaries    And reject My holy mountain        to chase Lady Luck and cater to Destiny—12     Will find yourselves a bit unlucky and your destiny an early death.        You’ll bow down and be killed like sheep brought to the slaughter    Because when I called you,