Study Desk

I could tell about your ‘good works' and all the ‘religious' things you do, but that will not help you.

When you need help, you cry to those false gods that you have gathered around you. Let them help you! But I tell you, the wind will blow them all away. A puff of wind will blow them all away. But the one who depends on me will get the land I promised and enjoy my holy mountain."

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.

Israel's evil greed made me angry, so I punished them. I turned away from them because I was angry. But they continued to do wrong. They did whatever they wanted.

I have seen their way of life, but I will heal them. I will guide and comfort them and those who mourn for them.

But evil people are like the angry ocean. They cannot be quiet and peaceful. They are angry, and like the ocean, they stir up mud.

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.

You are hungry, but not for food. You are hungry for arguing and fighting, not for bread. You are hungry to hit people with your evil hands. This is not the way to fast if you want your prayers to be heard in heaven!

Your cities have been destroyed for many years, but you will rebuild them and their foundations will last for a long time. You will be called "Fence Fixer" and "Builder of Roads and Houses."

Your feet run toward evil. You are always ready to kill innocent people. You think of nothing but evil. Everywhere you go you cause trouble and ruin.

All fairness and goodness is gone. There is only darkness around us, so we must wait for the light. We hope for a bright light, but all we have is darkness.

We are always complaining; we growl like bears and moan like doves. We are waiting for justice, but there is none. We are waiting to be saved, but salvation is still far away.

Darkness now covers the earth, and the people are in darkness. But the Lord will shine on you, and his Glory will appear over you.

"At that time you will see your people, and your faces will shine with happiness. First, you will be afraid, but then you will be excited. All the riches from across the seas will be set before you. The riches of the nations will come to you.

Children from other lands will rebuild your walls. Their kings will serve you. "When I was angry, I hurt you, but now I want to be kind to you. So I will comfort you.

In the past, people hurt you, but they will bow down before you. In the past, people hated you, but they will bow down at your feet. They will call you ‘The City of the Lord 's,' ‘Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'

"People hated you. You were left all alone with no one passing through. But I will make you great from now on. You will be happy forever and ever.

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.

"You now have copper, but I will bring you gold. You now have iron, but I will bring you silver. I will change your wood into copper and your rocks into iron. I will change your punishment into peace. And those who punished you will be replaced with those who are kind to 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.