Study Desk

Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

But I myself said: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility; yet my vindication is with the Lord , and my reward is with my God.

Then you will say within yourself, ‘Who fathered these for me? I was deprived of my children and unable to conceive, exiled and wandering— but who brought them up? See, I was left by myself— but these, where did they come from?'"

Look up to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never be shattered.

For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, and My salvation for all generations.

But you have forgotten the Lord , your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You are in constant dread all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, who has set himself to destroy. But where is the fury of the oppressor?

So listen to this, afflicted and drunken one—but not with wine.

Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.

"I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back with great compassion.

In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love," says the Lord your Redeemer.

so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do."

But come here, you sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute!

You became weary on your many journeys, but you did not say, "I give up!" You found a renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.

Because of his sinful greed I was angry, so I struck him; I was angry and hid; but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck.

"Why have we fasted, but You have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but You haven't noticed!" "Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers.

But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.