Study Desk

The earth also is polluted by its inhabitants, because they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

"You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol (the place of the dead) we have made an agreement, When the overwhelming scourge passes by, it will not reach us, For we have made lies our refuge and we have concealed ourselves in deception."

Bread grain is crushed fine, Indeed, the farmer does not continue to thresh it forever. Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually damage it, He does not thresh it longer.

Then the Lord said, "Because this nation approaches [Me only] with their words And honors Me [only] with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me is a tradition that is learned by rote [without any regard for its meaning],

Therefore, the LORD, who redeemed Abraham [from paganism] says this, concerning the house of Jacob (Israel): "Jacob will not be ashamed, nor will his face turn pale [with disappointment because of his children's degenerate behavior];

"All will be ashamed because of a people (the Egyptians) who cannot benefit them, Who are not a help or benefit, but a shame and also a disgrace."

Therefore, the Holy One of Israel says this, "Because you have refused and rejected this word [of Mine] And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,

The light of the full moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days [concentrated in one], in the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the wound He has inflicted [because of their sins].

Woe (judgment is coming) to those who go down to Egypt for help, Who rely on horses And trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek and consult the LORD!

"His rock [his stronghold] will pass away because of panic, And his princes will be terrified at the [sight of the battle] standard," Declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please, speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak to us in Judean (Hebrew) in the hearing of the people who are [stationed] on the wall."

Isaiah said to them, "You shall say the following to your master: 'This is what the LORD says, "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah, saying, "For the LORD, the God of Israel says this, 'Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria,

"Because your raging against Me And your arrogance has come up to My ears, I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your mouth, And I will turn you back by the way you came.

"What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander aimlessly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these heavenly bodies, The One who brings out their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one is missing.

"Because you are precious in My sight, You are honored and I love you, I will give other men in return for you and other peoples in exchange for your life.

"The beasts of the field will honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.

"Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron tendon And your brow is bronze [both unyielding],