Study Desk

The deserts and their cities should praise him. The settlements of Kedar should praise him. The people living in Sela should sing for joy; they should shout from the mountaintops.

The Lord says, "For a long time I have said nothing; I have been quiet and held myself back. But now I will cry out and strain like a woman giving birth to a child.

Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew; I will guide them along paths they have not known. I will make the darkness become light for them, and the rough ground smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not leave my people.

This is because I, the Lord , am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for you, and I gave Cush and Seba to make you mine.

Bring to me all the people who are mine, whom I made for my glory, whom I formed and made."

This is what the Lord , who saves you, the Holy One of Israel, says: "I will send armies to Babylon for you, and I will knock down all its locked gates. The Babylonians will shout their cries of sorrow.

So you did not buy incense for me; you did not freely bring me fat from your sacrifices. Instead you have weighed me down with your many sins; you have made me tired of your many wrongs.

"I, I am the One who erases all your sins, for my sake; I will not remember your sins.

I will pour out water for the thirsty land and make streams flow on dry land. I will pour out my Spirit into your children and my blessing on your descendants.

Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing. People treasure them, but they are useless. Those people are witnesses for the statues, but those people cannot see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed.

Then he burns the tree. He uses some of the wood for a fire to keep himself warm. He also starts a fire to bake his bread. But he uses part of the wood to make a god, and then he worships it! He makes the idol and bows down to it!

Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things! Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts! Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God. Sing, too, you trees in the forest! The Lord saved the people of Jacob! He showed his glory when he saved Israel.

This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his appointed king: "I hold your right hand and will help you defeat nations and take away other kings' power. I will open doors for you so city gates will not stop you.

I do these things for my servants, the people of Jacob, and for my chosen people, the Israelites. Cyrus, I call you by name, and I give you a title of honor even though you don't know me.

"How terrible it will be for those who argue with the God who made them. They are like a piece of broken pottery among many pieces. The clay does not ask the potter, ‘What are you doing?' The thing that is made doesn't say to its maker, ‘You have no hands.'

How terrible it will be for the child who says to his father, ‘Why are you giving me life?' How terrible it will be for the child who says to his mother, ‘Why are you giving birth to me?'"

I did not speak in secret or hide my words in some dark place. I did not tell the family of Jacob to look for me in empty places. I am the Lord , and I speak the truth; I say what is right.

But for my own sake I will be patient. People will praise me for not becoming angry and destroying you.

I do this for myself, for my own sake. I will not let people speak evil against me, and I will not let some god take my glory.

They did not become thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water flow from a rock for them. He split the rock, and water flowed out.