Study Desk

"Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.

He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.

Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD -with the first of them and with the last-I am he."

The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward;

each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!"

The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, "It is good." He nails down the idol so it will not topple.

"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,