Study Desk

God is high and lifted up. He lives forever. His name is holy. He says, "I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and sorry for their sins. I will give new life to those who are humble in spirit. I will give new life to those who are sorry for their sins.

My God says, "There is no peace for evil people."

They still come every day to worship me, acting as if they want to learn my ways. They pretend to be a nation that lives right and obeys the commands of their God. They ask me to judge them fairly. They want their God to be near them.

They say, "We fast to show honor to you. Why don't you see us? We starve our bodies to show honor to you. Why don't you notice us?" But God says, "You do things to please yourselves on those special days of fasting. And you punish your servants, not your own bodies.

It is your sins that separate you from your God. He turns away from you when he sees them.

That's because we committed crimes against our God. Our own sins speak out against us. We know we are guilty. We know we have sinned.

We rebelled against the Lord and lied to him. We turned away from our God and left him. We planned to hurt others and to rebel against God. From hearts filled with lies, we talked about it and made our plans.

The faraway lands are waiting for me. The great cargo ships are ready to sail. They are ready to bring your children from faraway lands. They will bring silver and gold with them to honor the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. He has done wonderful things for you.

Nations will give you what you need, like a child drinking milk from its mother. But you will ‘drink' riches from kings. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord , who saves you. You will know that I, the Great God of Jacob, protect you.

"The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The light from the moon will no longer be your light at night. The Lord will be your light forever. Your God will be your glory.

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. The Lord has chosen me to tell good news to the poor and to comfort those who are sad. He sent me to tell the captives and prisoners that they have been set free.

He sent me to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness, when our God will also punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort those who are sad,

You will be called, ‘The Lord 's Priests,' ‘The Servants of our God.' You will be proud of all the riches that have come to you from all the nations on earth.

The Lord makes me very happy. I am completely happy with my God. He dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He put the victory coat on me. I look like a man dressed for his wedding, like a bride covered with jewels.

The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden makes the seeds planted there rise up. In the same way, the Lord God will make goodness and praise grow throughout the nations.

You will be like a beautiful crown that the Lord holds up, like a king's crown in the hand of your God.

You will never again be called ‘The People God Left.' Your land will never again be called ‘The Land God Destroyed.' You will be called ‘The People God Loves.' Your land will be called ‘God's Bride,' because the Lord loves you, and your land will be his.

As a young man takes a bride and she belongs to him, so your land will belong to your children. As a man is happy with his new wife, so your God will be happy with you.

His people will be called "The Holy People," "The Saved People of the Lord ." And you, Jerusalem, will be called "The City God Wants," "The City God Is With."

No one has ever heard of such a God. No one has ever heard such a story. No one has ever seen any God except you, who does such great things for those who trust him.