Study Desk

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.

But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

According to their deeds, so will He repay: Wrath to His adversaries, retribution to His enemies; To the coastlands He will deal retribution.

So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream Which the wind of the LORD drives.

"Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that people may bring you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession.

To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

For as the earth produces its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations.

For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the groom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.

"I looked, but there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.

For He said, "Certainly they are My people, Sons who will not deal falsely." So He became their Savior.

Like the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name.

This is what the LORD says: "Just as the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, 'Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it,' So I will act in behalf of My servants In order not to destroy all of them.

"They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

"For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.

So I will choose their punishments And bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. Instead, they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."

Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: "Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you on account of My name, Have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, so that we may see your joy.' But they will be put to shame.

So that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her bountiful breasts."

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem."

"For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make, will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So will your descendants and your name endure.

"Like the shame of a thief when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their leaders, Their priests, and their prophets,