Study Desk

The Lord says, "Sing, Jerusalem. You are like a woman who never gave birth to children. Start singing and shout for joy. You never felt the pain of giving birth, but you will have more children than the woman who has a husband.

You were like a woman whose husband left her, and you were very sad. You were like a wife who married young and then her husband left her. But the Lord called you to be his," says your God.

God says, "I left you for a short time, but with great kindness I will bring you back again.

I became very angry and hid from you for a time, but I will show you mercy with kindness forever," says the Lord who saves you.

The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end, but my love will never disappear; my promise of peace will not come to an end," says the Lord who shows mercy to you.

"You poor city. Storms have hurt you, and you have not been comforted. But I will rebuild you with turquoise stones, and I will build your foundations with sapphires.

Those who are right with God may die, but no one pays attention. Good people are taken away, but no one understands. Those who do right are being taken away from evil

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

When you cry out for help, let the gods you have gathered help you. The wind will blow them all away; just a puff of wind will take them away. But the person who depends on me will receive the land and own my holy mountain."

And this is the reason: God lives forever and is holy. He is high and lifted up. He says, "I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are sad and humble. I give new life to those who are humble and to those whose hearts are broken.

I was angry because they were dishonest in order to make money. I punished them and turned away from them in anger, but they continued to do evil.

I have seen what they have done, but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them and those who felt sad for them. They will all praise me.

But evil people are like the angry sea, which cannot rest, whose waves toss up waste and mud.

They say, ‘To honor you we had special days when we fasted, but you didn't see. We humbled ourselves to honor you, but you didn't notice.'" But the Lord says, "You do what pleases yourselves on these special days, and you are unfair to your workers.

This kind of special day is not what I want. This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done. I don't want people just to bow their heads like a plant and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness. This is what you do on your special days when you fast, but do you think this is what the Lord wants?

Fairness has gone far away; goodness is nowhere to be found. We wait for the light, but there is only darkness now. We hope for a bright light, but all we have is darkness.

All of us growl like the bears. We call out sadly like the doves. We look for justice, but there isn't any. We want to be saved, but salvation is far away.

Darkness now covers the earth; deep darkness covers her people. But the Lord shines on you, and people see his glory around you.

"Jerusalem, foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. When I was angry, I hurt you, but now I want to be kind to you and comfort you.

"You have been hated and left empty with no one passing through. But I will make you great from now on; you will be a place of happiness forever and ever.