Study Desk

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)

"Foreigners^(ai) will rebuild your walls, and their kings^(aj) will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor^(ak) I will show you compassion.^(al)

Your gates^(am) will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations^(an)— their kings^(ao) led in triumphal procession.

For the nation or kingdom that will not serve^(ap) you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.^(aq)

"The glory of Lebanon^(ar) will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,^(as) to adorn my sanctuary;^(at) and I will glorify the place for my feet.^(au)

The children of your oppressors^(av) will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down^(aw) at your feet and will call you the City^(ax) of the Lord , Zion^(ay) of the Holy One^(az) of Israel.

"Although you have been forsaken^(ba) and hated, with no one traveling^(bb) through, I will make you the everlasting pride^(bc) and the joy^(bd) of all generations.

You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed^(be) at royal breasts. Then you will know^(bf) that I, the Lord , am your Savior,^(bg) your Redeemer,^(bh) the Mighty One of Jacob.^(bi)

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,^(bj) and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace^(bk) your governor and well-being your ruler.^(bl)

No longer will violence^(bm) be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction^(bn) within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation^(bo) and your gates Praise.^(bp)

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light,^(bq) and your God will be your glory.^(br)

Your sun^(bs) will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow^(bt) will end.

Then all your people will be righteous^(bu) and they will possess^(bv) the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted,^(bw) the work of my hands,^(bx) for the display of my splendor.^(by)

The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.^(bz) I am the Lord ; in its time I will do this swiftly."^(ca)

The Spirit^(a) of the Sovereign Lord ^(b) is on me, because the Lord has anointed^(c) me to proclaim good news^(d) to the poor.^(e) He has sent me to bind up^(f) the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom^(g) for the captives^(h) and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]

to proclaim the year of the Lord 's favor⁽ⁱ⁾ and the day of vengeance^(j) of our God, to comfort^(k) all who mourn,^(l)

and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown^(m) of beauty instead of ashes,⁽ⁿ⁾ the oil^(o) of joy instead of mourning,^(p) and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting^(q) of the Lord for the display of his splendor.^(r)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins^(s) and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Strangers^(t) will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

And you will be called priests^(u) of the Lord , you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth^(v) of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame^(w) you will receive a double^(x) portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit^(y) a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy^(z) will be yours.

"For I, the Lord , love justice;^(aa) I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant^(ab) with them.

Their descendants^(ac) will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed."^(ad)

I delight greatly in the Lord ; my soul rejoices^(ae) in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,^(af) as a bridegroom adorns his head^(ag) like a priest, and as a bride^(ah) adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden^(ai) causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness^(aj) and praise spring up before all nations.