Study Desk

And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, "I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break out into singing, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.

who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,'

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:

Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker-one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?

Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought forth?'

I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward," says the LORD of Hosts.

They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Our Redeemer-the LORD of Hosts is His name-is the Holy One of Israel.

This is what they are to you-those with whom you have labored and traded from youth-each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

who indeed call yourselves after the Holy City and lean on the God of Israel-the LORD of Hosts is His name.

Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD's chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon, and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.

I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.

Come near to Me and listen to this: "From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it took place, I was there." And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.

Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!"

He made my mouth like a sharp sword; He hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me like a polished arrow; He hid me in His quiver.

And now says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him-for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is my strength-

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break into joyful song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.