Study Desk

Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the Lord goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard.

He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.

For your husband is the one who made you— the Lord who commands armies is his name. He is your protector, the Holy One of Israel. He is called "God of the entire earth."

"Indeed, the Lord will call you back like a wife who has been abandoned and suffers from depression, like a young wife when she has been rejected," says your God.

Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know; nations that did not previously know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he bestows honor on you.

The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the Lord , and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.

There will be no prosperity," says my God, "for the wicked."

They seek me day after day; they want to know my requirements, like a nation that does what is right and does not reject the law of their God. They ask me for just decrees; they want to be near God.

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord ; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds.

Indeed, the coastlands look eagerly for me, the large ships are in the lead, bringing your sons from far away, along with their silver and gold, to honor the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has bestowed honor on you.

The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon's brightness shine on you; the Lord will be your permanent source of light— the splendor of your God will shine upon you.

to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn,

You will be called, ‘the Lord 's priests, servants of our God.' You will enjoy the wealth of nations and boast about the riches you receive from them.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord ; I will be overjoyed because of my God. For he clothes me in garments of deliverance; he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication. I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would; I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.

You will be a majestic crown in the hand of the Lord , a royal turban in the hand of your God.

As a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him.

But as for you who abandon the Lord and forget about worshiping at my holy mountain, who prepare a feast for the god called ‘Fortune,' and fill up wine jugs for the god called ‘Destiny'—