Study Desk

"Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel^(a) and come from the line of Judah,^(b) you who take oaths^(c) in the name of the Lord ^(d) and invoke^(e) the God of Israel— but not in truth^(f) or righteousness—

you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city^(g) and claim to rely^(h) on the God of Israel— the Lord Almighty is his name:⁽ⁱ⁾

I foretold the former things^(j) long ago, my mouth announced^(k) them and I made them known; then suddenly^(l) I acted, and they came to pass.

For I knew how stubborn^(m) you were; your neck muscles⁽ⁿ⁾ were iron, your forehead^(o) was bronze.

Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced^(p) them to you so that you could not say, ‘My images brought them about;^(q) my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'

You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? "From now on I will tell you of new things,^(r) of hidden things unknown to you.

They are created^(s) now, and not long ago;^(t) you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, ‘Yes, I knew^(u) of them.'

You have neither heard nor understood;^(v) from of old your ears^(w) have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous^(x) you are; you were called a rebel^(y) from birth.

For my own name's sake^(z) I delay my wrath;^(aa) for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.^(ab)

See, I have refined^(ac) you, though not as silver; I have tested^(ad) you in the furnace^(ae) of affliction.

For my own sake,^(af) for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed?^(ag) I will not yield my glory to another.^(ah)

"Listen^(ai) to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called:^(aj) I am he;^(ak) I am the first and I am the last.^(al)

My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,^(am) and my right hand spread out the heavens;^(an) when I summon them, they all stand up together.^(ao)

"Come together,^(ap) all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold^(aq) these things? The Lord 's chosen ally^(ar) will carry out his purpose^(as) against Babylon;^(at) his arm will be against the Babylonians.^[a]

I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called^(au) him. I will bring him, and he will succeed^(av) in his mission.

"Come near^(aw) me and listen^(ax) to this: "From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;^(ay) at the time it happens, I am there." And now the Sovereign Lord ^(az) has sent^(ba) me, endowed with his Spirit.^(bb)

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer,^(bc) the Holy One^(bd) of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches^(be) you what is best for you, who directs^(bf) you in the way^(bg) you should go.

If only you had paid attention^(bh) to my commands, your peace^(bi) would have been like a river,^(bj) your well-being^(bk) like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants^(bl) would have been like the sand,^(bm) your children like its numberless grains;^(bn) their name would never be blotted out^(bo) nor destroyed from before me."

Leave Babylon, flee^(bp) from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy^(bq) and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth;^(br) say, "The Lord has redeemed^(bs) his servant Jacob."

They did not thirst^(bt) when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow^(bu) for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.^(bv)

"There is no peace,"^(bw) says the Lord , "for the wicked."^(bx)