Study Desk

"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)