Study Desk

"You have said that the Lord has given men who speak for Him in Babylon.

This is because they have not listened to My words,' says the Lord, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants who spoke for Me. And you did not listen,' says the Lord.

For he has sent word to us in Babylon, saying, ‘You will be held there for a long time. So build houses and live in them. And plant gardens and eat their fruit.'"'"

For the days are coming,' says the Lord, ‘when I will bring back My people Israel and Judah from where they are held.' The Lord says, ‘I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers before them, and it will be theirs.'"

But they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

So do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant,' says the Lord, ‘and do not be troubled, O Israel, for see, from far away I will save you and your children from the land where they are being held. Jacob will return and have quiet rest, and no one will make him afraid.

For I am with you to save you,' says the Lord. ‘I will make a complete end of all the nations where I have sent you. I will not make a complete end of you, but I will give you the right punishment. I will not let you go without being punished.'

"For the Lord says, ‘Your hurt cannot be healed. Your hurt is very bad.

There is no one to ask for you in your cause, no help for your hurt, no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you. They do not care about you. For I have hurt you as if you were hurt by one who hates you. You have been punished without pity, because you have much guilt. You have done many sins.

For I will heal you. I will heal you where you have been hurt,' says the Lord, ‘because they have said that you are not wanted. They have said, "It is Zion. No one cares for her."'

Their children will be as they were before. They will be a strong people before Me. And I will punish all those who make it hard for them.

Their leader will be one of them. Their ruler will come from among them. I will bring him near, and he will come close to Me. For who would have the strength of heart to come near Me on his own?' says the Lord.

The Lord says, "The people who were not killed by the sword found loving-favor in the desert, when Israel looked for rest."

For there will be a day when watchmen on the hills of Ephraim will call out, ‘Get up, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'"

For the Lord says, "Sing loud with joy for Jacob, and call out among the heads of the nations. Make it known, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save Your people. Save those who are left of Israel.'

They will come crying, and in answer to their prayers, I will lead them. I will make them walk by rivers of waters on a straight path where they will not fall. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born."

For the Lord has paid the price to make Jacob free. He has made him free from the one who was stronger than he.

And they will come and call out for joy on the height of Zion. They will shine with joy over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the new wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the cattle. Their life will be like a well-watered garden. They will never have sorrow again.

Then the young women who have never had a man will dance for joy, and the young men and old as well. For I will change their sorrow to joy, and will comfort them. I will give them joy for their sorrow.