Study Desk

"Listen to Me in silence, you coastlands, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let's come together for judgment.

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

Let them bring them forward and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, So that we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;

"He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law."

Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, The settlements which Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

"I have kept silent for a long time, I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will groan, I will both gasp and pant.

The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the Law great and glorious.

Who gave Jacob up for spoils, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose Law they did not obey?

But now, this is what the LORD says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

"For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

"Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west.

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: "For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And will bring them all down as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans, into the ships over which they rejoice.

"The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.

"I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.

'For I will pour water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, And My blessing on your descendants;

Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them be put to shame together.

He will cut cedars for himself, and he takes a holm-oak or another oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow.