Judgments and Promises

(Romans 10:1–21)

1“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me;

I was found by those who did not seek Me.

To a nation that did not call My name,

I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

2All day long I have held out My hands

to an obstinate people

who walk in the wrong path,

who follow their own imaginations,

3to a people who continually provoke Me to My face,

sacrificing in the gardens

and burning incense on altars of brick,

4sitting among the graves,

spending nights in secret places,

eating the meat of pigs

and polluted broth from their bowls.

5They say, ‘Keep to yourself;

do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’

Such people are smoke in My nostrils,

a fire that burns all day long.

6Behold, it is written before Me:

I will not keep silent, but I will repay;

I will pay it back into their laps,

7both for your iniquities

and for those of your fathers,”

says the LORD.

“Because they burned incense on the mountains

and scorned Me on the hills,

I will measure into their laps

full payment for their former deeds.”

8This is what the LORD says:

“As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes,

and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’

so I will act on behalf of My servants;

I will not destroy them all.

9And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,

and heirs from Judah;

My elect will possess My mountains,

and My servants will dwell there.

10Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,

and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,

for My people who seek Me.

11But you who forsake the LORD,

who forget My holy mountain,

who set a table for Fortune

and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,

12I will destine you for the sword,

and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered,

because I called and you did not answer,

I spoke and you did not listen;

you did evil in My sight

and chose that in which I did not delight.”

13Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

“My servants will eat,

but you will go hungry;

My servants will drink,

but you will go thirsty;

My servants will rejoice,

but you will be put to shame.

14My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart,

but you will cry out with a heavy heart

and wail with a broken spirit.

15You will leave behind your name

as a curse for My chosen ones,

and the Lord GOD will slay you;

but to His servants He will give another name.

16Whoever invokes a blessing in the land

will do so by the God of truth,

and whoever takes an oath in the land

will swear by the God of truth.

For the former troubles will be forgotten

and hidden from My sight.