Study Desk

"Here is my servant,^(a) whom I uphold, my chosen one^(b) in whom I delight;^(c) I will put my Spirit^(d) on him, and he will bring justice^(e) to the nations.^(f)

He will not shout or cry out,^(g) or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed^(h) he will not break,⁽ⁱ⁾ and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.^(j) In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;^(k)

he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice^(l) on earth. In his teaching^(m) the islands⁽ⁿ⁾ will put their hope."^(o)

This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens,^(p) who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth^(q) with all that springs from it,^(r) who gives breath^(s) to its people, and life to those who walk on it:

"I, the Lord , have called^(t) you in righteousness;^(u) I will take hold of your hand.^(v) I will keep^(w) you and will make you to be a covenant^(x) for the people and a light^(y) for the Gentiles,^(z)

to open eyes that are blind,^(aa) to free^(ab) captives from prison^(ac) and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.^(ad)

"I am the Lord ;^(ae) that is my name!^(af) I will not yield my glory to another^(ag) or my praise to idols.^(ah)

See, the former things^(ai) have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce^(aj) them to you."

Sing^(ak) to the Lord a new song,^(al) his praise^(am) from the ends of the earth,^(an) you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,^(ao) you islands,^(ap) and all who live in them.

Let the wilderness^(aq) and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar^(ar) lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela^(as) sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.^(at)

Let them give glory^(au) to the Lord and proclaim his praise^(av) in the islands.^(aw)

The Lord will march out like a champion,^(ax) like a warrior^(ay) he will stir up his zeal;^(az) with a shout^(ba) he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.^(bb)

"For a long time I have kept silent,^(bc) I have been quiet and held myself back.^(bd) But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.^(be)

I will lay waste^(bf) the mountains^(bg) and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up^(bh) the pools.

I will lead^(bi) the blind^(bj) by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light^(bk) before them and make the rough places smooth.^(bl) These are the things I will do; I will not forsake^(bm) them.

But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,'^(bn) will be turned back in utter shame.^(bo)

"Hear, you deaf;^(bp) look, you blind, and see!

Who is blind^(bq) but my servant,^(br) and deaf like the messenger^(bs) I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant^(bt) with me, blind like the servant of the Lord ?

You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen."^(bu)

It pleased the Lord for the sake^(bv) of his righteousness to make his law^(bw) great and glorious.

But this is a people plundered^(bx) and looted, all of them trapped in pits^(by) or hidden away in prisons.^(bz) They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them;^(ca) they have been made loot, with no one to say, "Send them back."

Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention^(cb) in time to come?

Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers?^(cc) Was it not the Lord ,^(cd) against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow^(ce) his ways; they did not obey his law.^(cf)

So he poured out on them his burning anger,^(cg) the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames,^(ch) yet they did not understand;^(ci) it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.^(cj)