Study Desk

"For a long time I have said nothing. I have controlled myself and kept quiet. But now I will cry out like a woman giving birth. My breathing is getting faster and louder.

Then I will lead the blind along a path they never knew to places where they have never been before. I will change darkness into light for them. I will make the rough ground smooth. I will do these things for them; I will not abandon my people.

That's because I, the Lord , am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for you. I gave Ethiopia and Seba to make you mine.

Bring to me all the people who are mine—the people who have my name. I made them for myself. I made them, and they are mine.

The Lord , the Holy One of Israel, saves you, and he says, "I will send armies to Babylon for you. Many people will be captured. Those Chaldeans will be taken away in their own boats. (They are so proud of those boats.)

The Lord is making roads through the sea. He is making a path for his people, even through rough waters. The Lord says,

"I will pour water for thirsty people, and streams will flow through the desert. I will pour my Spirit on your children, and I will bless your family.

Some people make idols, but they are worthless. They love their statues, which are useless. Those who serve as witnesses for these statues cannot even see. They don't know enough to be ashamed.

Skies, rejoice for what the Lord has done. Earth, shout for joy down to your deepest parts! Start singing, you mountains and all you trees in the forest! Yes, the Lord has saved Jacob. He has shown his glory by rescuing Israel.

I do this for my servant, Jacob. I do it for my chosen people, Israel. Cyrus, I am calling you by name. You don't know me, but I know you.

The Lord says, "Egypt and Ethiopia are rich, but, Israel, you will get those riches. The tall people from Seba will be yours. They will walk behind you with chains around their necks. They will bow down before you and ask you to pray for them and say, ‘The true God really is with you, and there is no other God.'"

I have spoken openly, not in secret. I did not hide my words in a dark and secret place. I did not tell the people of Jacob to look for me in empty places. I am the Lord , and I speak the truth. I say only what is right.

Men will see your naked body and use you for sex. I will make you pay for the bad things you did, and I will not let anyone help you.

"I was angry with my people. They were mine, but I turned against them. I let you punish them, but you showed them no mercy. Even for those who were old you made the work hard.

"But I will be patient. I will do this for myself. People will praise me for not becoming angry and destroying you. You will praise me for waiting.

I will do this for myself—for me! I will not let you treat me as if I am not important. I will not let some false god take my glory and praise.

The Lord , the Savior, the Holy One of Israel, says, "I am the Lord your God. I teach you for your own good. I lead you in the way you should go.

But the Lord also said, "There is no peace for evil people."

He used me to speak for him. He used me like a sharp sword, but he also held me in his hand to protect me. He used me like a sharp arrow, but he also kept me safe in his arrow bag.

I said, "I worked hard for nothing. I wore myself out, but I did nothing useful. I used all my power, but I did not really do anything. So the Lord must decide what to do with me. He must decide my reward."