Study Desk

I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.

When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain."

For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: "I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.

I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.

But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.

We all growl like bears, we coo mournfully like doves; we wait for deliverance, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.

For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the Lord shines on you; his splendor appears over you.

You were once abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, but I will make you a permanent source of pride and joy to coming generations.

But those who harvest the grain will eat it, and will praise the Lord . Those who pick the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my holy sanctuary."

I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on.

But they rebelled and offended his holy Spirit, so he turned into an enemy and fought against them.

For a short time your special nation possessed a land, but then our adversaries knocked down your holy sanctuary.

We existed from ancient times, but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects.

Look, I have decreed: I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve,

But as for you who abandon the Lord and forget about worshiping at my holy mountain, who prepare a feast for the god called ‘Fortune,' and fill up wine jugs for the god called ‘Destiny'—

So this is what the sovereign Lord says: "Look, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry! Look, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty! Look, my servants will rejoice, but you will be humiliated!

Look, my servants will shout for joy as happiness fills their hearts! But you will cry out as sorrow fills your hearts; you will wail because your spirits will be crushed.

Your names will live on in the curse formulas of my chosen ones. The sovereign Lord will kill you, but he will give his servants another name.