Study Desk

Don't be afraid, because I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

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.

Your children will grow like a tree in the grass, like poplar trees growing beside streams of water.

This is what the Lord , the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker, says: "You ask me about what will happen. You question me about my children. You give me orders about what I have made.

"Now, listen, you lover of pleasure. You think you are safe. You tell yourself, ‘I am the only important person. I will never be a widow or lose my children.'

Two things will happen to you suddenly, in a single day. You will lose your children and your husband. These things will truly happen to you, in spite of all your magic, in spite of your powerful tricks.

You would have had many children, as many as the grains of sand. They would never have died out nor been destroyed."

The Lord answers, "Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth? Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you.

Your children will soon return to you, and the people who defeated you and destroyed you will leave.

Look up and look around you. All your children are gathering to return to you." The Lord says, "As surely as I live, your children will be like jewels that a bride wears proudly.

Children were born to you while you were sad, but they will say to you, ‘This place is too small for us. Give us a bigger place to live.'

Then you will say to yourself, ‘Who gave me all these children? I was sad and lonely, defeated and separated from my people. So who reared these children? I was left all alone. Where did all these children come from?'"

Kings will teach your children, and daughters of kings will take care of them. They will bow down before you and kiss the dirt at your feet. Then you will know I am the Lord . Anyone who trusts in me will not be disappointed."

This is what the Lord says: "The prisoners will be taken from the strong soldiers. What the soldiers have taken will be saved. I will fight your enemies, and I will save your children.

Look at Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your ancestors. Abraham had no children when I called him, but I blessed him and gave him many descendants.

Men took him away roughly and unfairly. He died without children to continue his family. He was put to death; he was punished for the sins of my people.

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.

because you will spread out to the right and to the left. Your children will take over other nations, and they will again live in cities that once were destroyed.

All your children will be taught by the Lord , and they will have much peace.

Foreigners who have joined the Lord should not say, "The Lord will not accept me with his people." The eunuch should not say, "Because I cannot have children, the Lord will not accept me."