Study Desk

How the faithful city has become a ^(C1)prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.

Your silver has become ^(F1)waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.

Your ^(C1)rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone ^(C2)loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They ^(C3)do not obtain justice for the ^(F1)orphan, Nor does the widow's case come before them.

Therefore the Lord ^(F1)GOD of armies, The ^(C1)Mighty One of Israel, declares, "Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And ^(C2)avenge Myself on My enemies.

-"I will also turn My hand against you, And ^(C1)smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.

-"Then I will restore your ^(C1)judges as at first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the ^(C2)city of righteousness, A faithful city."

Zion will be ^(C1)redeemed with justice And her ^(F1)repentant ones with righteousness.

But ^(F1)wrongdoers and sinners together will be ^(C1)broken, And those who abandon the LORD will come to an end.

^(F1)You certainly will be ashamed of the ^(F2)(C1)oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed by the ^(C2)gardens which you have chosen.

For you will be like an ^(F1)oak whose ^(C1)leaf withers away, Or like a garden that has no water.

The strong man will become like ^(F1)flax fiber, And his work a spark. So they shall both ^(C1)burn together And there will be ^(C2)no one to extinguish them.