Study Desk

So you should look for the Lord before it is too late; you should call to him while he is near.

The wicked should stop doing wrong, and they should stop their evil thoughts. They should return to the Lord so he may have mercy on them. They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive them.

Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

"So you will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees in the fields will clap their hands.

You were tired from doing these things, but you never gave up. You found new strength, so you did not quit.

"Whom were you so afraid of that you lied to me? You have not remembered me or even thought about me. I have been quiet for a long time. Is that why you are not afraid of me?

It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you.

So we have driven away justice, and we have kept away from what is right. Truth is not spoken in the streets; what is honest is not allowed to enter the city.

He could not find anyone to help the people, and he was surprised that there was no one to help. So he used his own power to save the people; his own goodness gave him strength.

Your gates will always be open; they will not be closed day or night so the nations can bring their wealth to you, and their kings will be led to you.

They will rebuild the old ruins and restore the places destroyed long ago. They will repair the ruined cities that were destroyed for so long.

Instead of being ashamed, my people will receive twice as much wealth. Instead of being disgraced, they will be happy because of what they receive. They will receive a double share of the land, so their happiness will continue forever.

As a young man marries a woman, so your children will marry your land. As a man rejoices over his new wife, so your God will rejoice over you.

I looked around, but I saw no one to help me. I was surprised that no one supported me. So I used my own power to save my people; my own anger supported me.

He said, "These are my people; my children will not lie to me." So he saved them.

But they turned against him and made his Holy Spirit very sad. So he became their enemy, and he fought against them.

Lord , why are you making us wander from your ways? Why do you make us stubborn so that we don't honor you? For our sake come back to us, your servants, who belong to you.

Tear open the skies and come down to earth so that the mountains will tremble before you.

You help those who enjoy doing good, who remember how you want them to live. But you were angry because we sinned. For a long time we disobeyed, so how can we be saved?

I will punish you for your sins and your ancestors' sins," says the Lord . "They burned incense to gods on the mountains and shamed me on those hills. So I will punish them as they should be punished for what they did."