Study Desk

^(C1)Woe to me, my mother, that you have given birth to me As a ^(C2)man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not ^(C3)lent, nor have people lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.

The LORD said, "I will certainly ^(C1)set you free for purposes of good; I will certainly make the ^(C2)enemy plead with you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

"Can anyone smash iron, ^(C1)Iron from the north, or bronze?

-"I will give your ^(C1)wealth and your treasures As plunder ^(C2)without cost, For all your sins And within all your borders.

-"Then I will make your enemies bring your possessions Into a ^(C1)land that you do not know; For a ^(C2)fire has been kindled in My anger, And it will burn upon you."

^(C1)You know, LORD; Remember me, take notice of me, And ^(C2)take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that ^(C3)for Your sake I endure reproach.

Your words were found and I ^(C1)ate them, And Your ^(C2)words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been ^(C3)called by Your name, LORD God of armies.

I ^(C1)did not sit in a circle of revelers and celebrate. Because of Your hand upon me I sat ^(C2)alone, For You ^(C3)filled me with indignation.

Why has my pain been endless And my ^(C1)wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me ^(C2)like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: "^(C1)If you return, then I will restore you— ^(C2)You will stand before Me; And ^(C3)if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become ^(F1)My spokesman. They, for their part, may turn to you, But as for you, you are not to turn to them.

-"Then I will ^(C1)make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For ^(C2)I am with you to save you And rescue you," declares the LORD.

"So I will ^(C1)rescue you from the hand of the wicked, And I will ^(C2)redeem you from the ^(F1)grasp of the violent."