Study Desk

"But now listen, Jacob, my servant,^(a) Israel, whom I have chosen.^(b)

This is what the Lord says— he who made^(c) you, who formed you in the womb,^(d) and who will help^(e) you: Do not be afraid,^(f) Jacob, my servant,^(g) Jeshurun,^[a](h) whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water⁽ⁱ⁾ on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;^(j) I will pour out my Spirit^(k) on your offspring, and my blessing^(l) on your descendants.^(m)

They will spring up like grass⁽ⁿ⁾ in a meadow, like poplar trees^(o) by flowing streams.^(p)

Some will say, ‘I belong^(q) to the Lord '; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand,^(r) ‘The Lord 's,'^(s) and will take the name Israel.

"This is what the Lord says— Israel's King^(t) and Redeemer,^(u) the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last;^(v) apart from me there is no God.^(w)

Who then is like me?^(x) Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come— yes, let them foretell^(y) what will come.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim^(z) this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God^(aa) besides me? No, there is no other Rock;^(ab) I know not one."

All who make idols^(ac) are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.^(ad) Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(ae) they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(af)

Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(ag) which can profit nothing?^(ah)

People who do that will be put to shame;^(ai) such craftsmen are only human beings. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(aj)

The blacksmith^(ak) takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm.^(al) He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.^(am)

The carpenter^(an) measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in human form,^(ao) human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.^(ap)

He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine,^(aq) and the rain made it grow.

It is used as fuel^(ar) for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships^(as) it; he makes an idol and bows^(at) down to it.

Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(au)"

From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships.^(av) He prays^(aw) to it and says, "Save^(ax) me! You are my god!"

They know nothing, they understand^(ay) nothing; their eyes^(az) are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding^(ba) to say, "Half of it I used for fuel;^(bb) I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable^(bc) thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"^(bd)

Such a person feeds on ashes;^(be) a deluded^(bf) heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(bg)"

"Remember^(bh) these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant.^(bi) I have made you, you are my servant;^(bj) Israel, I will not forget you.^(bk)

I have swept away^(bl) your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return^(bm) to me, for I have redeemed^(bn) you."

Sing for joy,^(bo) you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth^(bp) beneath. Burst into song, you mountains,^(bq) you forests and all your trees,^(br) for the Lord has redeemed^(bs) Jacob, he displays his glory^(bt) in Israel.

"This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer,^(bu) who formed^(bv) you in the womb:^(bw) I am the Lord , the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens,^(bx) who spreads out the earth^(by) by myself,

who foils^(bz) the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners,^(ca) who overthrows the learning of the wise^(cb) and turns it into nonsense,^(cc)

who carries out the words^(cd) of his servants and fulfills^(ce) the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem,^(cf) ‘It shall be inhabited,' of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,' and of their ruins,^(cg) ‘I will restore them,'^(ch)

who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up^(ci) your streams,'

who says of Cyrus,^(cj) ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem,^(ck) "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple,^(cl) "Let its foundations^(cm) be laid."'