Study Desk

"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.^(a) To a nation^(b) that did not call on my name,^(c) I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.'

All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people,^(d) who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations^(e)—

a people who continually provoke me to my very face,^(f) offering sacrifices in gardens^(g) and burning incense^(h) on altars of brick;

who sit among the graves⁽ⁱ⁾ and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs,^(j) and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;

who say, ‘Keep away; don't come near me, for I am too sacred^(k) for you!' Such people are smoke^(l) in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.

"See, it stands written before me: I will not keep silent^(m) but will pay back⁽ⁿ⁾ in full; I will pay it back into their laps^(o)—

both your sins^(p) and the sins of your ancestors,"^(q) says the Lord . "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains and defied me on the hills,^(r) I will measure into their laps the full payment^(s) for their former deeds."

This is what the Lord says: "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes^(t) and people say, ‘Don't destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants;^(u) I will not destroy them all.

I will bring forth descendants^(v) from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess^(w) my mountains; my chosen^(x) people will inherit them, and there will my servants live.^(y)

Sharon^(z) will become a pasture for flocks,^(aa) and the Valley of Achor^(ab) a resting place for herds, for my people who seek^(ac) me.

"But as for you who forsake^(ad) the Lord and forget my holy mountain,^(ae) who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine^(af) for Destiny,

I will destine you for the sword,^(ag) and all of you will fall in the slaughter;^(ah) for I called but you did not answer,^(ai) I spoke but you did not listen.^(aj) You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."^(ak)

Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "My servants will eat,^(al) but you will go hungry;^(am) my servants will drink,^(an) but you will go thirsty;^(ao) my servants will rejoice,^(ap) but you will be put to shame.^(aq)

My servants will sing^(ar) out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out^(as) from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

You will leave your name for my chosen ones to use in their curses;^(at) the Sovereign Lord will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name.^(au)

Whoever invokes a blessing^(av) in the land will do so by the one true God;^(aw) whoever takes an oath in the land will swear^(ax) by the one true God. For the past troubles^(ay) will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.^(az) The former things will not be remembered,^(ba) nor will they come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice^(bb) forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem^(bc) to be a delight and its people a joy.

I will rejoice^(bd) over Jerusalem and take delight^(be) in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying^(bf) will be heard in it no more.

"Never again will there be in it an infant^(bg) who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years;^(bh) the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach^[a] a hundred will be considered accursed.

They will build houses^(bi) and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.^(bj)

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,^(bk) or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree,^(bl) so will be the days^(bm) of my people; my chosen^(bn) ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.

They will not labor in vain,^(bo) nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;^(bp) for they will be a people blessed^(bq) by the Lord , they and their descendants^(br) with them.

Before they call^(bs) I will answer;^(bt) while they are still speaking^(bu) I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb^(bv) will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox,^(bw) and dust will be the serpent's^(bx) food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,"^(by) says the Lord .