Study Desk

This is what the Lord says: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce^(a) with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell^(b) you? Because of your sins^(c) you were sold;^(d) because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer?^(e) Was my arm too short^(f) to deliver you? Do I lack the strength^(g) to rescue you? By a mere rebuke^(h) I dry up the sea,⁽ⁱ⁾ I turn rivers into a desert;^(j) their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.

I clothe the heavens with darkness^(k) and make sackcloth^(l) its covering."

The Sovereign Lord ^(m) has given me a well-instructed tongue,⁽ⁿ⁾ to know the word that sustains the weary.^(o) He wakens me morning by morning,^(p) wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^(q)

The Sovereign Lord ^(r) has opened my ears;^(s) I have not been rebellious,^(t) I have not turned away.

I offered my back to those who beat^(u) me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;^(v) I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.^(w)

Because the Sovereign Lord ^(x) helps^(y) me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint,^(z) and I know I will not be put to shame.^(aa)

He who vindicates^(ab) me is near.^(ac) Who then will bring charges against me?^(ad) Let us face each other!^(ae) Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!

It is the Sovereign Lord ^(af) who helps^(ag) me. Who will condemn^(ah) me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths^(ai) will eat them up.

Who among you fears^(aj) the Lord and obeys^(ak) the word of his servant?^(al) Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,^(am) trust^(an) in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.

But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^(ao) go, walk in the light of your fires^(ap) and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand:^(aq) You will lie down in torment.^(ar)

"Listen^(a) to me, you who pursue righteousness^(b) and who seek^(c) the Lord : Look to the rock^(d) from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

look to Abraham,^(e) your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.^(f)

The Lord will surely comfort^(g) Zion^(h) and will look with compassion on all her ruins;⁽ⁱ⁾ he will make her deserts like Eden,^(j) her wastelands^(k) like the garden of the Lord . Joy and gladness^(l) will be found in her, thanksgiving^(m) and the sound of singing.

"Listen to me, my people;⁽ⁿ⁾ hear me,^(o) my nation: Instruction^(p) will go out from me; my justice^(q) will become a light to the nations.^(r)

My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation^(s) is on the way,^(t) and my arm^(u) will bring justice to the nations. The islands^(v) will look to me and wait in hope^(w) for my arm.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke,^(x) the earth will wear out like a garment^(y) and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation^(z) will last forever,^(aa) my righteousness will never fail.^(ab)

"Hear me, you who know what is right,^(ac) you people who have taken my instruction to heart:^(ad) Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.^(ae)

For the moth will eat them up like a garment;^(af) the worm^(ag) will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever,^(ah) my salvation through all generations."

Awake, awake,^(ai) arm^(aj) of the Lord , clothe yourself with strength!^(ak) Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old.^(al) Was it not you who cut Rahab^(am) to pieces, who pierced that monster^(an) through?

Was it not you who dried up the sea,^(ao) the waters of the great deep,^(ap) who made a road in the depths of the sea^(aq) so that the redeemed^(ar) might cross over?

Those the Lord has rescued^(as) will return. They will enter Zion with singing;^(at) everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy^(au) will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(av)

"I, even I, am he who comforts^(aw) you. Who are you that you fear^(ax) mere mortals,^(ay) human beings who are but grass,^(az)

that you forget^(ba) the Lord your Maker,^(bb) who stretches out the heavens^(bc) and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror^(bd) every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?^(be)

The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;^(bf) they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.^(bg)

For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea^(bh) so that its waves roar^(bi)— the Lord Almighty^(bj) is his name.

I have put my words in your mouth^(bk) and covered you with the shadow of my hand^(bl)— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth,^(bm) and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.^(bn)'"

Awake, awake!^(bo) Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup^(bp) of his wrath,^(bq) you who have drained to its dregs^(br) the goblet that makes people stagger.^(bs)

Among all the children^(bt) she bore there was none to guide her;^(bu) among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand.^(bv)

These double calamities^(bw) have come upon you— who can comfort you?^(bx)— ruin and destruction,^(by) famine^(bz) and sword^(ca)— who can^[a] console you?

Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner,^(cb) like antelope caught in a net.^(cc) They are filled with the wrath^(cd) of the Lord , with the rebuke^(ce) of your God.

Therefore hear this, you afflicted^(cf) one, made drunk,^(cg) but not with wine.

This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends^(ch) his people: "See, I have taken out of your hand the cup^(ci) that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.

I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,^(cj) who said to you, ‘Fall prostrate^(ck) that we may walk^(cl) on you.' And you made your back like the ground, like a street to be walked on."^(cm)

Awake, awake,^(a) Zion, clothe yourself with strength!^(b) Put on your garments of splendor,^(c) Jerusalem, the holy city.^(d) The uncircumcised^(e) and defiled^(f) will not enter you again.^(g)

Shake off your dust;^(h) rise up,⁽ⁱ⁾ sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck,^(j) Daughter Zion,^(k) now a captive.

For this is what the Lord says: "You were sold for nothing,^(l) and without money^(m) you will be redeemed.⁽ⁿ⁾"

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "At first my people went down to Egypt^(o) to live; lately, Assyria^(p) has oppressed them.

"And now what do I have here?" declares the Lord . "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,^[a]" declares the Lord . "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.^(q)

Therefore my people will know^(r) my name;^(s) therefore in that day^(t) they will know that it is I who foretold^(u) it. Yes, it is I."

How beautiful on the mountains^(v) are the feet of those who bring good news,^(w) who proclaim peace,^(x) who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"^(y)

Listen! Your watchmen^(z) lift up their voices;^(aa) together they shout for joy.^(ab) When the Lord returns^(ac) to Zion,^(ad) they will see it with their own eyes.

Burst into songs of joy^(ae) together, you ruins^(af) of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted^(ag) his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.^(ah)

The Lord will lay bare his holy arm^(ai) in the sight of all the nations,^(aj) and all the ends of the earth^(ak) will see the salvation^(al) of our God.

Depart,^(am) depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing!^(an) Come out from it and be pure,^(ao) you who carry the articles^(ap) of the Lord 's house.

But you will not leave in haste^(aq) or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you,^(ar) the God of Israel will be your rear guard.^(as)

See, my servant^(at) will act wisely^[b]; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.^(au)

Just as there were many who were appalled^(av) at him^[c]— his appearance was so disfigured^(aw) beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness^(ax)—

so he will sprinkle^(ay) many nations,^[d] and kings^(az) will shut their mouths^(ba) because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.^(bb)