Study Desk

They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.

This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to undo the weapons belt on the waist of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

"I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

So that people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no one else,

Therefore I declared them to you long ago, Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, So that you would not say, 'My idol has done them, And my carved image and my cast metal image have commanded them.'

"They are created now and not long ago; And before today you have not heard them, So that you will not say, 'Behold, I knew them.'

And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength),

He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the protected ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, So that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

"For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar (the LORD of armies is His name).

"I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, Who have said to you, 'Lie down so that we may walk over you.' You have also made your back like the ground, And like the street for those who walk over it."

The LORD has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, So that all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.

But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

"Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that people may bring you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession.

Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: "Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you on account of My name, Have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, so that we may see your joy.' But they will be put to shame.

So that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her bountiful breasts."

Wash your heart from evil, Jerusalem, So that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts Lodge within you?

'They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, so that they may be successful; And they do not defend the rights of the poor.

"I have made you an assayer and an examiner among My people, So that you may know and put their way to the test."

then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are saved!'—so that you may do all these abominations?