Study Desk

"Sing, barren woman,^(a) you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy,^(b) you who were never in labor;^(c) because more are the children^(d) of the desolate^(e) woman than of her who has a husband,^(f)" says the Lord .

"Enlarge the place of your tent,^(g) stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.^(h)

For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants⁽ⁱ⁾ will dispossess nations^(j) and settle in their desolate^(k) cities.

"Do not be afraid;^(l) you will not be put to shame.^(m) Do not fear disgrace;⁽ⁿ⁾ you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth^(o) and remember no more the reproach^(p) of your widowhood.^(q)

For your Maker^(r) is your husband^(s)— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One^(t) of Israel is your Redeemer;^(u) he is called the God of all the earth.^(v)

The Lord will call you back^(w) as if you were a wife deserted^(x) and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young,^(y) only to be rejected," says your God.

"For a brief moment^(z) I abandoned^(aa) you, but with deep compassion^(ab) I will bring you back.^(ac)

In a surge of anger^(ad) I hid^(ae) my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness^(af) I will have compassion^(ag) on you," says the Lord your Redeemer.^(ah)

"To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.^(ai) So now I have sworn^(aj) not to be angry^(ak) with you, never to rebuke^(al) you again.

Though the mountains be shaken^(am) and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love^(an) for you will not be shaken^(ao) nor my covenant^(ap) of peace^(aq) be removed," says the Lord , who has compassion^(ar) on you.

"Afflicted^(as) city, lashed by storms^(at) and not comforted,^(au) I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,^[a](av) your foundations^(aw) with lapis lazuli.^(ax)

I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates^(ay) of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

All your children will be taught by the Lord ,^(az) and great will be their peace.^(ba)

In righteousness^(bb) you will be established:^(bc) Tyranny^(bd) will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.^(be) Terror^(bf) will be far removed; it will not come near you.

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender^(bg) to you.

"See, it is I who created the blacksmith^(bh) who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon^(bi) fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer^(bj) to wreak havoc;

no weapon forged against you will prevail,^(bk) and you will refute^(bl) every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants^(bm) of the Lord , and this is their vindication^(bn) from me," declares the Lord .