Study Desk

But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves.

"But I have stirred up a leader who will approach from the north. From the east he will call on my name. I will give him victory over kings and princes. He will trample them as a potter treads on clay.

He will say, "I have long been silent; yes, I have restrained myself. But now, like a woman in labor, I will cry and groan and pant.

But those who trust in idols, who say, ‘You are our gods,' will be turned away in shame.

You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don't really listen."

But his own people have been robbed and plundered, enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped. They are fair game for anyone and have no one to protect them, no one to take them back home.

Therefore, he poured out his fury on them and destroyed them in battle. They were enveloped in flames, but they still refused to understand. They were consumed by fire, but they did not learn their lesson.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the Lord . "You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be.

"But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

"But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me, O Israel!

"But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.

Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit?

All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.

But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,' and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!'

But the Lord will save the people of Israel with eternal salvation. Throughout everlasting ages, they will never again be humiliated and disgraced.

Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord ? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.

For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel.

For I was angry with my chosen people and punished them by letting them fall into your hands. But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy. You oppressed even the elderly.