Study Desk

"I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you.

"When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain."

"I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

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

Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom.

All of us growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We hope for justice, but there is none, For salvation, but it is far from us.

"For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you.

"Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

"No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory.

But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.

It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken," Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate"; But you will be called, "My delight is in her," And your land, "Married"; For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married.

But those who garner it will eat it and praise the LORD; And those who gather it will drink it in the courts of My sanctuary.

But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.

"Behold, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom,

"But you who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny,

I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. Behold, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. Behold, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

"Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you will wail with a broken spirit.