Study Desk

So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."

"Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all her sins."

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:"Prepare the way of the Lord;Make straight in the desert [fn] A highway for our God.

The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.

Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

"Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment.

So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, "It is ready for the soldering"; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you.'

"The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.

He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law."

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.

But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"

Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.