Study Desk

"Come, all you who are thirsty,^(a) come to the waters;^(b) and you who have no money, come, buy^(c) and eat! Come, buy wine and milk^(d) without money and without cost.^(e)

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?^(f) Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,^(g) and you will delight in the richest^(h) of fare.

Give ear and come to me; listen,⁽ⁱ⁾ that you may live.^(j) I will make an everlasting covenant^(k) with you, my faithful love^(l) promised to David.^(m)

See, I have made him a witness⁽ⁿ⁾ to the peoples, a ruler and commander^(o) of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations^(p) you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you,^(q) because of the Lord your God, the Holy One^(r) of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."^(s)

Seek^(t) the Lord while he may be found;^(u) call^(v) on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake^(w) their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.^(x) Let them turn^(y) to the Lord , and he will have mercy^(z) on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.^(aa)

"For my thoughts^(ab) are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"^(ac) declares the Lord .

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,^(ad) so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.^(ae)

As the rain^(af) and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,^(ag) so that it yields seed^(ah) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(ai)

so is my word^(aj) that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,^(ak) but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose^(al) for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy^(am) and be led forth in peace;^(an) the mountains and hills will burst into song^(ao) before you, and all the trees^(ap) of the field will clap their hands.^(aq)

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers^(ar) the myrtle^(as) will grow. This will be for the Lord 's renown,^(at) for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever."

This is what the Lord says: "Maintain justice^(a) and do what is right,^(b) for my salvation^(c) is close at hand and my righteousness^(d) will soon be revealed.

Blessed^(e) is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath^(f) without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil."

Let no foreigner^(g) who is bound to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely exclude me from his people."^(h) And let no eunuch⁽ⁱ⁾ complain, "I am only a dry tree."

For this is what the Lord says: "To the eunuchs^(j) who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant^(k)—

to them I will give within my temple and its walls^(l) a memorial^(m) and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name⁽ⁿ⁾ that will endure forever.^(o)

And foreigners^(p) who bind themselves to the Lord to minister^(q) to him, to love the name^(r) of the Lord , and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath^(s) without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—

these I will bring to my holy mountain^(t) and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^(u) will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.^(v)"^(w)

The Sovereign Lord declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather^(x) still others to them besides those already gathered."

Come, all you beasts of the field,^(y) come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

Israel's watchmen^(z) are blind, they all lack knowledge;^(aa) they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.^(ab)

They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds^(ac) who lack understanding;^(ad) they all turn to their own way,^(ae) they seek their own gain.^(af)

"Come," each one cries, "let me get wine!^(ag) Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."^(ah)

The righteous perish,^(a) and no one takes it to heart;^(b) the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.^(c)

Those who walk uprightly^(d) enter into peace; they find rest^(e) as they lie in death.

"But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,^(f) you offspring of adulterers^(g) and prostitutes!^(h)

Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels,⁽ⁱ⁾ the offspring of liars?

You burn with lust among the oaks^(j) and under every spreading tree;^(k) you sacrifice your children^(l) in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.

The idols^(m) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings⁽ⁿ⁾ and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?^(o)

You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;^(p) there you went up to offer your sacrifices.^(q)

Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love,^(r) and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.^(s)

You went to Molek^[a](t) with olive oil and increased your perfumes.^(u) You sent your ambassadors^[b](v) far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead!^(w)

You wearied^(x) yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.'^(y) You found renewal of your strength,^(z) and so you did not faint.

"Whom have you so dreaded and feared^(aa) that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered^(ab) me nor taken this to heart?^(ac) Is it not because I have long been silent^(ad) that you do not fear me?

I will expose your righteousness and your works,^(ae) and they will not benefit you.

When you cry out^(af) for help, let your collection of idols save^(ag) you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow^(ah) them away. But whoever takes refuge^(ai) in me will inherit the land^(aj) and possess my holy mountain."^(ak)

And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road!^(al) Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."^(am)

For this is what the high and exalted^(an) One says— he who lives forever,^(ao) whose name is holy: "I live in a high^(ap) and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite^(aq) and lowly in spirit,^(ar) to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.^(as)

I will not accuse^(at) them forever, nor will I always be angry,^(au) for then they would faint away because of me— the very people^(av) I have created.

I was enraged by their sinful greed;^(aw) I punished them, and hid^(ax) my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways.^(ay)

I have seen their ways, but I will heal^(az) them; I will guide^(ba) them and restore comfort^(bb) to Israel's mourners,

creating praise on their lips.^(bc) Peace, peace,^(bd) to those far and near,"^(be) says the Lord . "And I will heal them."

But the wicked^(bf) are like the tossing sea,^(bg) which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire^(bh) and mud.

"There is no peace,"^(bi) says my God, "for the wicked."^(bj)

"Shout it aloud,^(a) do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.^(b) Declare to my people their rebellion^(c) and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.^(d)

For day after day they seek^(e) me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken^(f) the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near^(g) them.

‘Why have we fasted,'^(h) they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled⁽ⁱ⁾ ourselves, and you have not noticed?'^(j) "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^(k) and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^(l) and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard^(m) on high.

Is this the kind of fast⁽ⁿ⁾ I have chosen, only a day for people to humble^(o) themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed^(p) and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(q) Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting^(r) I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice^(s) and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed^(t) free and break every yoke?^(u)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(v) and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(w)— when you see the naked, to clothe^(x) them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(y)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(z) and your healing^(aa) will quickly appear; then your righteousness^[a](ab) will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(ac)

Then you will call,^(ad) and the Lord will answer;^(ae) you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger^(af) and malicious talk,^(ag)

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^(ah) then your light^(ai) will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.^(aj)

The Lord will guide^(ak) you always; he will satisfy your needs^(al) in a sun-scorched land^(am) and will strengthen^(an) your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden,^(ao) like a spring^(ap) whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^(aq) and will raise up the age-old foundations;^(ar) you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^(as) Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath^(at) and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight^(au) and the Lord 's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,^(av)

then you will find your joy^(aw) in the Lord , and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights^(ax) of the land and to feast on the inheritance^(ay) of your father Jacob." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(az)

Surely the arm^(a) of the Lord is not too short^(b) to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.^(c)

But your iniquities have separated^(d) you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.^(e)

For your hands are stained with blood,^(f) your fingers with guilt.^(g) Your lips have spoken falsely,^(h) and your tongue mutters wicked things.

No one calls for justice;⁽ⁱ⁾ no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely^(j) on empty arguments, they utter lies;^(k) they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.^(l)

They hatch the eggs of vipers^(m) and spin a spider's web.⁽ⁿ⁾ Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.

Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make.^(o) Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence^(p) are in their hands.

Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood.^(q) They pursue evil schemes;^(r) acts of violence mark their ways.^(s)

The way of peace they do not know;^(t) there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads;^(u) no one who walks along them will know peace.^(v)

So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness;^(w) for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

Like the blind^(x) we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble^(y) as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead.^(z)

We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves.^(aa) We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away.

For our offenses^(ab) are many in your sight, and our sins testify^(ac) against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:^(ad)

rebellion^(ae) and treachery against the Lord , turning our backs^(af) on our God, inciting revolt and oppression,^(ag) uttering lies^(ah) our hearts have conceived.

So justice^(ai) is driven back, and righteousness^(aj) stands at a distance; truth^(ak) has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.

Truth^(al) is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.^(am)

He saw that there was no one,^(an) he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;^(ao) so his own arm achieved salvation^(ap) for him, and his own righteousness^(aq) sustained him.

He put on righteousness as his breastplate,^(ar) and the helmet^(as) of salvation on his head; he put on the garments^(at) of vengeance^(au) and wrapped himself in zeal^(av) as in a cloak.

According to what they have done, so will he repay^(aw) wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands^(ax) their due.

From the west,^(ay) people will fear the name of the Lord , and from the rising of the sun,^(az) they will revere his glory.^(ba) For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath^(bb) of the Lord drives along.^[a]

"The Redeemer^(bc) will come to Zion,^(bd) to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,"^(be) declares the Lord .

"As for me, this is my covenant^(bf) with them," says the Lord . "My Spirit,^(bg) who is on you, will not depart from you,^(bh) and my words that I have put in your mouth^(bi) will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever," says the Lord .

"Arise,^(a) shine, for your light^(b) has come, and the glory^(c) of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness^(d) covers the earth and thick darkness^(e) is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations^(f) will come to your light,^(g) and kings^(h) to the brightness of your dawn.

"Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble⁽ⁱ⁾ and come to you; your sons come from afar,^(j) and your daughters^(k) are carried on the hip.^(l)

Then you will look and be radiant,^(m) your heart will throb and swell with joy;⁽ⁿ⁾ the wealth^(o) on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

Herds of camels^(p) will cover your land, young camels of Midian^(q) and Ephah.^(r) And all from Sheba^(s) will come, bearing gold and incense^(t) and proclaiming the praise^(u) of the Lord .

All Kedar's^(v) flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings^(w) on my altar,^(x) and I will adorn my glorious temple.^(y)

"Who are these^(z) that fly along like clouds,^(aa) like doves to their nests?

Surely the islands^(ab) look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,^[a](ac) bringing^(ad) your children from afar, with their silver and gold,^(ae) to the honor^(af) of the Lord your God, the Holy One^(ag) of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.^(ah)