Study Desk

He will pay them back for their works. He will send anger upon those who are against Him, and will punish those who hate Him. He will send punishment on the islands.

"And as for Me, this is My agreement with them," says the Lord. "My Spirit which is upon you, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, will not leave your mouth, or the mouth of your children, or the mouth of your children's children," say the Lord, "from now and forever."

"Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you.

For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you.

All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you. The male sheep of Nebaioth will be ready for your need. They will be received on My altar. And I will make My house beautiful.

For sure the islands will wait for Me. And the ships of Tarshish will come first, to bring your sons from far away, and their silver and gold with them. They will come because of the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for He has brought great honor to you.

"People from strange lands will build up your walls, and their kings will help you. For I destroyed you in My anger, but in My favor I have had loving-pity on you.

For the nation which does not serve you will be destroyed. Those nations will all be destroyed.

The sons of those who made it hard for you will come bowing to you. All those who hated you will bow down at your feet. And they will call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

"You have been left and hated, with no one passing through. But I will make you a pride forever, a joy for all your children's children.

Your sun will set no more, and your moon will not become less. For the Lord will be your light forever and ever, and the days of your sorrow will end.

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Men from other lands will be your farmers and care for your vines.

Instead of your shame you will have a share that is twice as much. Instead of being without honor, they will sing for joy over all you receive. So they will have twice as much in their land, and joy that lasts forever will be theirs.

For I, the Lord, love what is right and fair. I hate stealing and what is wrong. I will be faithful to pay them what they should have. And I will make an agreement with them that will last forever.

I will have much joy in the Lord. My soul will have joy in my God, for He has clothed me with the clothes of His saving power. He has put around me a coat of what is right and good, as a man at his own wedding wears something special on his head, and as a bride makes herself beautiful with stones of great worth.

You will no longer be called "Left Alone." Your land will no longer be called "Forgotten." But you will be called "My joy is in her," and your land "Married." For the Lord finds joy in you, and to Him your land will be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman who has never had a man, your sons will marry you. And as the man to be married finds joy in his bride, so your God will find joy in you.

The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His strong arm, "I will never again give your grain to be food for those who hate you. And strangers will never again drink your new wine that you have worked hard to make.

Go through, go through the gates. Open the way for the people. Build up, build up the road. Take away the stones, and raise the flag over the people.

And they will call them "The holy people, the people who have been saved and set free by the Lord." And you will be called "A city looked for, a city that God has not forgotten."