Study Desk

Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.

You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up. You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak.

You think that what you do is right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to help you.

When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."

"I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.

"I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.

But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck.

You go to court, but you do not have justice on your side. You depend on lies to win your case. You carry out your plans to hurt others.

The evil plots you make are as deadly as the eggs of a poisonous snake. Crush an egg, out comes a snake! But your plots will do you no good—they are as useless as clothing made of cobwebs!

The people say, "Now we know why God does not save us from those who oppress us. We hope for light to walk by, but there is only darkness,

We are frightened and distressed. We long for God to save us from oppression and wrong, but nothing happens.

Other nations will be covered by darkness, But on you the light of the Lord will shine; The brightness of his presence will be with you.

The Lord says to Jerusalem, "Foreigners will rebuild your walls, And their kings will serve you. In my anger I punished you, But now I will show you my favor and mercy.

But nations that do not serve you Will be completely destroyed.

But you that planted and harvested the grain Will eat the bread and praise the Lord . You that tended and gathered the grapes Will drink the wine in the courts of my Temple."

I was amazed when I looked and saw that there was no one to help me. But my anger made me strong, and I won the victory myself.

from all their suffering. It was not an angel, but the Lord himself who saved them. In his love and compassion he rescued them. He had always taken care of them in the past,

but they rebelled against him and made his holy spirit sad. So the Lord became their enemy and fought against them.

But then they remembered the past, the days of Moses, the servant of the Lord , and they asked, "Where now is the Lord , who saved the leaders of his people from the sea? Where is the Lord , who gave his spirit to Moses?