Study Desk

This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is my throne,^(a) and the earth is my footstool.^(b) Where is the house^(c) you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?

Has not my hand made all these things,^(d) and so they came into being?" declares the Lord . "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit,^(e) and who tremble at my word.^(f)

But whoever sacrifices a bull^(g) is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's^(h) blood, and whoever burns memorial incense⁽ⁱ⁾ is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways,^(j) and they delight in their abominations;^(k)

so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread.^(l) For when I called, no one answered,^(m) when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil⁽ⁿ⁾ in my sight and chose what displeases me."^(o)

Hear the word of the Lord , you who tremble at his word:^(p) "Your own people who hate^(q) you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!' Yet they will be put to shame.^(r)

Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound^(s) of the Lord repaying^(t) his enemies all they deserve.

"Before she goes into labor,^(u) she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.^(v)

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen^(w) things like this? Can a country be born in a day^(x) or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.^(y)

Do I bring to the moment of birth^(z) and not give delivery?" says the Lord . "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.

"Rejoice^(aa) with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love^(ab) her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn^(ac) over her.

For you will nurse^(ad) and be satisfied at her comforting breasts;^(ae) you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."^(af)

For this is what the Lord says: "I will extend peace^(ag) to her like a river,^(ah) and the wealth^(ai) of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried^(aj) on her arm and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,^(ak) so will I comfort^(al) you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

When you see this, your heart will rejoice^(am) and you will flourish^(an) like grass; the hand^(ao) of the Lord will be made known to his servants,^(ap) but his fury^(aq) will be shown to his foes.

See, the Lord is coming with fire,^(ar) and his chariots^(as) are like a whirlwind;^(at) he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke^(au) with flames of fire.

For with fire^(av) and with his sword^(aw) the Lord will execute judgment^(ax) on all people, and many will be those slain^(ay) by the Lord .

"Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens,^(az) following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs,^(ba) rats^(bb) and other unclean things—they will meet their end^(bc) together with the one they follow," declares the Lord .

"And I, because of what they have planned and done,^(bd) am about to come^[a] and gather the people of all nations^(be) and languages, and they will come and see my glory.^(bf)

"I will set a sign^(bg) among them, and I will send some of those who survive^(bh) to the nations—to Tarshish,^(bi) to the Libyans^[b] and Lydians^(bj) (famous as archers), to Tubal^(bk) and Greece,^(bl) and to the distant islands^(bm) that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.^(bn) They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

And they will bring^(bo) all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain^(bp) in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord —on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,"^(bq) says the Lord . "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.^(br)

And I will select some of them also to be priests^(bs) and Levites," says the Lord .

"As the new heavens and the new earth^(bt) that I make will endure before me," declares the Lord , "so will your name and descendants endure.^(bu)

From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath^(bv) to another, all mankind will come and bow down^(bw) before me," says the Lord .

"And they will go out and look on the dead bodies^(bx) of those who rebelled^(by) against me; the worms^(bz) that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched,^(ca) and they will be loathsome to all mankind."