Study Desk

The Lord saved me, so we will play songs on stringed instruments in the Temple of the Lord all the days of our lives.

So Isaiah asked him, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah said, "They saw everything in my palace. I showed them all my wealth."

A poor person cannot buy those expensive statues, so he finds a tree that will not rot. Then he finds a skilled craftsman to make it into an idol that will not fall over.

The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and the workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the one who shapes the metal. He says, "This metal work is good." He nails the statue to a base so it can't fall over.

So don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.

Look, I have made you like a new threshing board with many sharp teeth. So you will walk on mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like chaff.

Tell us what is coming next so we will believe that you are gods. Do something, whether it is good or bad, and make us afraid.

Who told us about this before it happened? Who told us ahead of time so we could say, ‘He was right'? None of you told us anything; none of you told us before it happened; no one heard you tell about it.

So he became very angry with us and brought terrible wars against us. It was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them, but they didn't know what was happening. It was as if they were burning, but they didn't pay any attention.

The Lord says, "You are my witnesses and the servant I chose. I chose you so you would know and believe me, so you would understand that I am the true God. There was no God before me, and there will be no God after me.

So you did not buy incense for me; you did not freely bring me fat from your sacrifices. Instead you have weighed me down with your many sins; you have made me tired of your many wrongs.

So I will make your holy rulers unholy. I will bring destruction on the people of Jacob, and I will let Israel be insulted."

Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing. People treasure them, but they are useless. Those people are witnesses for the statues, but those people cannot see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed.

Those people don't know what they are doing. They don't understand! It is as if their eyes are covered so they can't see. Their minds don't understand.

"People of Jacob, remember these things! People of Israel, remember you are my servants. I made you, and you are my servants. So Israel, I will not forget you.

This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his appointed king: "I hold your right hand and will help you defeat nations and take away other kings' power. I will open doors for you so city gates will not stop you.

I will give you the wealth that is stored away and the hidden riches so you will know I am the Lord , the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

so that everyone will know there is no other God. From the east to the west they will know I alone am the Lord .

I was angry with my people, so I rejected those who belonged to me. I gave them to you, but you showed them no mercy. You even made the old people work very hard.

You are tired of the advice you have received. So let those who study the sky— those who tell the future by looking at the stars and the new moons— let them save you from what is about to happen to you.