Study Desk

This is what the Lord says: "Maintain justice^(a) and do what is right,^(b) for my salvation^(c) is close at hand and my righteousness^(d) will soon be revealed.

Blessed^(e) is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath^(f) without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil."

Let no foreigner^(g) who is bound to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely exclude me from his people."^(h) And let no eunuch⁽ⁱ⁾ complain, "I am only a dry tree."

For this is what the Lord says: "To the eunuchs^(j) who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant^(k)—

to them I will give within my temple and its walls^(l) a memorial^(m) and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name⁽ⁿ⁾ that will endure forever.^(o)

And foreigners^(p) who bind themselves to the Lord to minister^(q) to him, to love the name^(r) of the Lord , and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath^(s) without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—

these I will bring to my holy mountain^(t) and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^(u) will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.^(v)"^(w)

The Sovereign Lord declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather^(x) still others to them besides those already gathered."

Come, all you beasts of the field,^(y) come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!

Israel's watchmen^(z) are blind, they all lack knowledge;^(aa) they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.^(ab)

They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds^(ac) who lack understanding;^(ad) they all turn to their own way,^(ae) they seek their own gain.^(af)

"Come," each one cries, "let me get wine!^(ag) Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."^(ah)

The righteous perish,^(a) and no one takes it to heart;^(b) the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.^(c)

Those who walk uprightly^(d) enter into peace; they find rest^(e) as they lie in death.

"But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,^(f) you offspring of adulterers^(g) and prostitutes!^(h)

Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels,⁽ⁱ⁾ the offspring of liars?

You burn with lust among the oaks^(j) and under every spreading tree;^(k) you sacrifice your children^(l) in the ravines and under the overhanging crags.

The idols^(m) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings⁽ⁿ⁾ and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent?^(o)

You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;^(p) there you went up to offer your sacrifices.^(q)

Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love,^(r) and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.^(s)

You went to Molek^[a](t) with olive oil and increased your perfumes.^(u) You sent your ambassadors^[b](v) far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead!^(w)

You wearied^(x) yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.'^(y) You found renewal of your strength,^(z) and so you did not faint.

"Whom have you so dreaded and feared^(aa) that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered^(ab) me nor taken this to heart?^(ac) Is it not because I have long been silent^(ad) that you do not fear me?

I will expose your righteousness and your works,^(ae) and they will not benefit you.

When you cry out^(af) for help, let your collection of idols save^(ag) you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow^(ah) them away. But whoever takes refuge^(ai) in me will inherit the land^(aj) and possess my holy mountain."^(ak)

And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road!^(al) Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."^(am)

For this is what the high and exalted^(an) One says— he who lives forever,^(ao) whose name is holy: "I live in a high^(ap) and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite^(aq) and lowly in spirit,^(ar) to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.^(as)

I will not accuse^(at) them forever, nor will I always be angry,^(au) for then they would faint away because of me— the very people^(av) I have created.

I was enraged by their sinful greed;^(aw) I punished them, and hid^(ax) my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways.^(ay)

I have seen their ways, but I will heal^(az) them; I will guide^(ba) them and restore comfort^(bb) to Israel's mourners,

creating praise on their lips.^(bc) Peace, peace,^(bd) to those far and near,"^(be) says the Lord . "And I will heal them."

But the wicked^(bf) are like the tossing sea,^(bg) which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire^(bh) and mud.

"There is no peace,"^(bi) says my God, "for the wicked."^(bj)

"Shout it aloud,^(a) do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.^(b) Declare to my people their rebellion^(c) and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.^(d)

For day after day they seek^(e) me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken^(f) the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near^(g) them.

‘Why have we fasted,'^(h) they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled⁽ⁱ⁾ ourselves, and you have not noticed?'^(j) "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^(k) and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^(l) and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard^(m) on high.

Is this the kind of fast⁽ⁿ⁾ I have chosen, only a day for people to humble^(o) themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed^(p) and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(q) Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting^(r) I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice^(s) and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed^(t) free and break every yoke?^(u)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(v) and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(w)— when you see the naked, to clothe^(x) them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(y)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(z) and your healing^(aa) will quickly appear; then your righteousness^[a](ab) will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(ac)

Then you will call,^(ad) and the Lord will answer;^(ae) you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger^(af) and malicious talk,^(ag)

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^(ah) then your light^(ai) will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.^(aj)

The Lord will guide^(ak) you always; he will satisfy your needs^(al) in a sun-scorched land^(am) and will strengthen^(an) your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden,^(ao) like a spring^(ap) whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^(aq) and will raise up the age-old foundations;^(ar) you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^(as) Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath^(at) and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight^(au) and the Lord 's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,^(av)

then you will find your joy^(aw) in the Lord , and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights^(ax) of the land and to feast on the inheritance^(ay) of your father Jacob." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(az)