Study Desk

For they call themselves after the holy city, and they lean on the God of Israel— Yahweh of hosts is his name.

Neither have you heard, nor have you known, nor from of old has your ear been opened. For I knew you would deal treacherously, very treacherously, and you are called a rebel from the womb.

For the sake of my name I refrain from my anger, and for my praise I restrain it for you so as not to cut you off.

For my own sake, for my own sake I do it; for why should it be defiled? And I will not give my glory to another."

And when he led them through the deserts, they were not thirsty; he made water flow from the rock for them, and he split the rock, and the water gushed out.

"There is no peace," says Yahweh, "for the wicked."

But I myself said, "I have labored in vain; I have used up my strength for nothing and vanity! Nevertheless, my justice is with Yahweh, and my reward is with my God."

And now Yahweh says, who formed me from the womb as a servant for him, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might not be gathered, for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength.

And he says, "It is trivial for you to be a servant for me, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel. I will give you as a light to the nations, to be my salvation to the end of the earth."

Thus says Yahweh, the redeemer of Israel, his holy one, to the one who despises life, to the one who abhors the nation, to the slave of rulers: "Kings shall see and stand up; princes, and they shall bow down, for the sake of Yahweh, who is faithful, the holy one of Israel, and he has chosen you."

They shall not be hungry or thirsty, and heat and sun shall not strike them, for he who takes pity on them will lead them, and he will guide them to springs of water.

Sing for joy, heavens, and rejoice, earth! Mountains must break forth in rejoicing! For Yahweh has comforted his people, and he will take pity on his afflicted ones.

Surely your sites of ruins and desolate places and land of ruins, surely now you will be too cramped for your inhabitants, and those who engulfed you will be far away.

Yet the children born when you were bereaved will say in your hearing, "The place is too cramped for me; make room for me so that I can dwell."

But thus says Yahweh: "Indeed a captive of the mighty shall be taken, and the war-booty of the tyrant shall be rescued, for I myself will dispute with your opponent, and I myself will save your children.

The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of a pupil, to know how to help the weary with a word. He awakens morning by morning, awakens an ear for me to listen as do the pupils.

The Lord Yahweh has opened an ear for me, and I, I was not rebellious. I did not turn backwards;

he who obtains rights for me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is the master of my judgment? Let him approach me.

Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah; she brought you forth. For I called him alone, but I blessed him and made him numerous."

For Yahweh will comfort Zion; he will comfort all its sites of ruins. And he will make its wilderness like Eden, and its desert like the garden of Yahweh. Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the sound of song.