Study Desk

^(C1)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; Their idols have become loads for the animals and the cattle. The things ^(F1)that you carry are burdensome, A load for the weary animal.

They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But ^(F1)have themselves ^(C1)gone into captivity.

"^(C1)Listen to Me, house of Jacob, And all ^(C2)the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been ^(C3)carried by Me from ^(F1)birth And have been carried from the womb;

Even to your old age ^(C1)I ^(F1)will be the same, And even to your ^(F2)(C2)graying years I will ^(F3)carry you! I have ^(F4)done it, and I will bear you; And I will ^(F3)carry you and I will save you.

"^(C1)To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal, and compare Me, That we would be alike?

-"Those who ^(C1)lavish gold from the bag And weigh silver on the scale, Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They ^(C2)bow down, indeed they worship it.

-"They ^(C1)lift it on the shoulder, carry it, And set it in its place, and it stands there. ^(C2)It does not move from its place. Though one may shout to it, it ^(C3)cannot answer; It ^(C4)cannot save him from his distress.

"^(C1)Remember this, and be ^(F1)assured; ^(C2)Recall it to ^(F2)mind, you ^(C3)wrongdoers.

-"Remember the ^(C1)former things long past, For I am God, and there is ^(C2)no other; I am God, and there is ^(C3)no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, '^(C1)My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Calling a ^(C1)bird of prey from the ^(C2)east, The man of ^(F1)My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have ^(C3)spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it.

"^(C1)Listen to Me, you ^(C2)stubborn-minded, Who are ^(C3)far from righteousness.

-"I ^(C1)bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant ^(C2)salvation in Zion, And My ^(C3)glory for Israel.

"^(C1)Come down and sit in the dust, ^(C2)Virgin ^(C3)daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground without a throne, Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called ^(C4)tender and delicate.

-"Take the ^(C1)millstones and ^(C2)grind flour. Remove your ^(C3)veil, ^(C4)strip off the skirt, Uncover the leg, cross the rivers.

-"Your ^(C1)nakedness will be uncovered, Your shame will also be exposed; I will ^(C2)take vengeance and will not spare anyone."

Our ^(C1)Redeemer, the LORD of armies is His name, The Holy One of Israel.

"^(C1)Sit silently, and go into ^(C2)darkness, Daughter of the Chaldeans; For you will no longer be called The ^(C3)queen of ^(C4)kingdoms.

-"I was angry with My people, I profaned My heritage And handed them over to you. You did not show mercy to them, On the ^(C1)aged you made your yoke very heavy.

-"Yet you said, 'I will be a ^(C1)queen forever.' These things you did not ^(C2)consider Nor remember the ^(C3)outcome of ^(F1)them.

"Now, then, hear this, you ^(C1)luxuriant one, Who ^(C2)lives securely, Who says in her heart, '^(C3)I am, and there is no one besides me. I will ^(C4)not sit as a widow, Nor know the loss of children.'

-"But these ^(C1)two things will come on you ^(C2)suddenly in one day: Loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in full measure In spite of your many ^(C3)sorceries, In spite of the great power of your spells.

-"You felt ^(C1)secure in your wickedness and said, '^(C2)No one sees me,' Your ^(C3)wisdom and your knowledge, ^(F1)they have led you astray; For you have said in your heart, '^(C4)I am, and there is no one besides me.'

-"But ^(C1)evil will come on you Which you will not know how to charm away; And disaster will fall on you For which you cannot atone; And ^(C2)destruction about which you do not know Will come on you ^(C3)suddenly.

"Persist now in your ^(C1)spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to benefit, Perhaps you may cause trembling.

-"You are ^(C1)wearied with your many counsels; Let now the ^(C2)astrologers, Those who prophesy by the stars, Those who predict by the new moons, Stand up and ^(C3)save you from what will come upon you.

-"Behold, they have become ^(C1)like stubble, ^(C2)Fire burns them; They cannot save themselves from the power of the flame; There will be ^(C3)no coal to warm by Nor a fire to sit before!

-"So have those become to you with whom you have labored, Those who have ^(C1)done business with you from your youth; Each has wandered in his own ^(F1)way; There is ^(C2)no one to save you.