Study Desk

"And now listen, Jacob My servant, Israel whom I have chosen.^(a)

This is the word of the Lord your Maker who formed you from the womb; He^[a] will help you: Do not fear; Jacob is My servant; I have chosen Jeshurun.^[b](b)

For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit^(c) on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.

They will sprout among^[c] the grass like poplars by flowing streams.

This one will say, ‘I am the Lord 's'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord 's,' and name himself by the name of Israel."

This is what the Lord , the King of Israel and its Redeemer,^(d) the Lord of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last.^(e) There is no God but Me.^(f)

Who, like Me, can announce the future? Let him say so and make a case before Me,^(g) since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare^[d] the coming things, and what will take place.

Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses!^(h) Is there any God but Me?⁽ⁱ⁾ There is no other Rock;^(j) I do not know any.

All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.^(k)

Who makes a god or casts a metal image for no profit?^(l)

Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are humans. They all will assemble and stand; they all will be startled and put to shame.

The ironworker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. Also he grows hungry and his strength fails; he doesn't drink water and is faint.

The woodworker stretches out a measuring line, he outlines it with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He makes it according to a human likeness,^(m) like a beautiful person, to dwell in a temple.

He cuts down^[e] cedars for his use, or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.

It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it and warms himself; also he kindles a fire and bakes bread; he even makes it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.

He burns half of it in a fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I see the blaze."

He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it. He bows down to it and worships; He prays to it,⁽ⁿ⁾ "Save me, for you are my god."

Such people^[f] do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes^[g] so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand.

No one reflects, no one has the perception or insight to say, "I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. I will make something detestable^(o) with the rest of it, and I will bow down to a block of wood."

He feeds on^[h] ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?"^(p)

Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you, you are My servant; Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.^[i](q)

I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,^(r) and your sins like a mist. Return to Me,^(s) for I have redeemed you.^(t)

Rejoice, heavens,^(u) for the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth. Break out into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorifies Himself through Israel.^(v)

This is what the Lord , your Redeemer^(w) who formed you from the womb,^(x) says: I am Yahweh, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by Myself;^(y) who alone spread out the earth;

who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness;^(z)

who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers; who says to Jerusalem, "She will be inhabited," and to the cities of Judah, "They will be rebuilt," and I will restore her ruins;

who says to the depths of the sea, "Be dry," and I will dry up your rivers;

who says to Cyrus,^(aa) "My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure"^(ab) and says to Jerusalem, "She will be rebuilt,"^(ac) and of the temple, "Its foundation will be laid."

The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed,^(a) whose right hand I have grasped^(b) to subdue nations before him, to disarm^[a] kings,^(c) to open the doors before him and the gates will not be shut:

"I will go before you and level the uneven places;^[b](d) I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.^(e)

I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places,^(f) so that you may know that I, Yahweh, the God of Israel call you by your name.^(g)

I call you by your name, because of Jacob My servant^(h) and Israel My chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know Me.

I am Yahweh, and there is no other;⁽ⁱ⁾ there is no God but Me.^(j) I will strengthen^[c] you, though you do not know Me,

so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but Me.^(k) I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I form light and create darkness,^(l) I make success and create disaster;^(m) I, Yahweh, do all these things.

"Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness.⁽ⁿ⁾ Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it.^(o) I, Yahweh, have created it.

"Woe to the one who argues with his Maker— one clay pot among many.^[d] Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making?'^(p) Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands'?^[e]

How absurd is the one who says to his father, ‘What are you fathering?' or to his mother, ‘What are you giving birth to?'"

This is what the Lord , the Holy One of Israel^(q) and its Maker, says: "Ask Me what is to happen to^[f] My sons,^(r) and instruct Me about the work of My hands.^(s)

I made the earth, and created man on it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens,^(t) and I commanded all their host.

I have raised him up in righteousness,^(u) and will level all roads for him. He will rebuild My city,^(v) and set My exiles free,^(w) not for a price or a bribe," says the Lord of Hosts.

This is what the Lord says: The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush and the Sabeans, men of stature,^(x) will come over to you^(y) and will be yours; they will follow you, they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess^[g] to you: God is indeed with you,^(z) and there is no other; there is no other God.

Yes, You are a God who hides Himself,^(aa) God of Israel, Savior.^(ab)

All of them are put to shame, even humiliated;^(ac) the makers of idols go in humiliation together.

Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated for all eternity.^(ad)

For this is what the Lord says— God is the Creator of the heavens. He formed the earth and made it. He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited^(ae)— "I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

I have not spoken in secret,^(af) somewhere in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob: Seek Me in a wasteland.^(ag) I, Yahweh, speak truthfully;^(ah) I say what is right.

"Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives of the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols, and pray to a god who cannot save,^(ai) have no knowledge.^(aj)

Speak up and present your case^[h](ak)— yes, let them take counsel together. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior;^(al) there is no one except Me.^(am)

Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

By Myself I have sworn;^(an) Truth has gone from My mouth,^(ao) a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow^(ap) to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

It will be said to Me: Righteousness and strength is only in the Lord ." All who are enraged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.^(aq)

All the descendants of Israel will be justified and find glory through the Lord .

Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.^(a) Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle. The images you carry are loaded, as a burden for the weary animal.

The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.^(b)

"Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.

I will be the same until your old age,^(c) and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.

"Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to? Who will you measure Me with, so that we should be like each other?^(d)

Those who pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales— they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god. Then they kneel and bow down to it.^(e)

They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;^(f) they set it in its place, and there it stands; it does not budge from its place.^(g) They cry out to it but it doesn't answer; it saves no one from his trouble.

"Remember this and be brave;^[a] take it to heart, you transgressors!

Remember what happened long ago,^(h) for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me.

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.⁽ⁱ⁾

I call a bird of prey^[b] from the east,^(j) a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.^(k) I have planned it; I will also do it.

Listen to me, you hardhearted, far removed from justice:

I am bringing My justice near;^(l) it is not far away, and My salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, My splendor in Israel.

"Go down and sit in the dust,^(a) Virgin Daughter Babylon.^(b) Sit on the ground without a throne, Daughter Chaldea! For you will no longer be called pampered and spoiled.

Take millstones and grind meal;^(c) remove your veil, strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, wade through the streams.

Your nakedness will be uncovered, and your shame will be exposed.^(d) I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.^[a]

The Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer;^(e) Yahweh of Hosts is His name.

"Daughter Chaldea, sit in silence^(f) and go into darkness. For you will no longer be called mistress of kingdoms.

I was angry with My people; I profaned My possession, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly.

You said, ‘I will be the mistress forever.' You did not take these things to heart or think about their outcome.

"So now hear this, lover of luxury, who sits securely,^(g) who says to herself, ‘I exist, and there is no one else. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.'^(h)

These two things will happen to you suddenly, in one day: loss of children and widowhood. They will happen to you in their entirety, in spite of your many sorceries⁽ⁱ⁾ and the potency of your spells.

You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.'^(j) Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. You said to yourself, ‘I exist, and there is no one else.'

But disaster will happen to you; you will not know how to avert it. And it will fall on you, but you will be unable to ward it off.^[b] Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly.^(k)

So take your stand with your spells and your many sorceries, which you have wearied yourself with from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!

You are worn out with your many consultations. So let them stand and save you— the astrologers,^[c] who observe the stars,^(l) who predict monthly what will happen to you.

Look, they are like stubble;^(m) fire burns them up.⁽ⁿ⁾ They cannot deliver themselves from the power^[d] of the flame. This is not a coal for warming themselves, or a fire to sit beside!

This is what they are to you— those who have wearied you and have traded with you from your youth— each wanders on his own way; no one can save you.

"Listen to this, house of Jacob— those who are called by the name Israel and have descended from^[a] Judah,^(a) who swear by the name of Yahweh^(b) and declare the God of Israel, but not in truth or righteousness.

For they are named after the Holy City, and lean on the God of Israel;^(c) His name is Yahweh of Hosts.

I declared the past events long ago; they came out of My mouth; I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they occurred.

Because I know that you are stubborn, and your neck is iron^[b] and your forehead bronze,^(d)

therefore I declared to you long ago. I announced it to you before it occurred, so you could not claim, ‘My idol caused them; my carved image and cast idol control them.'^(e)

You have heard it. Observe it all. Will you not acknowledge it? From now on I will announce new things to you, hidden things that you have not known.^(f)

They have been created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today, so you could not claim, ‘I already knew them!'

You have never heard; you have never known; For a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew that you were very treacherous, and were known as a rebel from birth.^(g)

I will delay My anger for the honor of My name, and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and for My praise, so that you will not be destroyed.

Look, I have refined you,^(h) but not as silver; I have tested^[c] you in the furnace of affliction.

I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own,⁽ⁱ⁾ for how can I^[d] be defiled? I will not give My glory to another.^(j)

"Listen to Me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by Me: I am He; I am the first, I am also the last.^(k)

My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens;^(l) when I summoned them, they stood up together.

All of you, assemble and listen! Who among the idols^[e] has declared these things? The Lord loves him;^[f] he will accomplish His will against Babylon,^(m) and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.

I—I have spoken; yes, I have called him;⁽ⁿ⁾ I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.^(o)

Approach Me and listen to this. From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;^(p) from the time anything existed, I was there." And now the Lord God has sent me and His Spirit.^(q)

This is what the Lord , your Redeemer,^(r) the Holy One of Israel^(s) says: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go.

If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river,^(t) and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.^(u)

Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand,^(v) and the offspring of your body like its grains; their name would not be cut off or eliminated from My presence.

Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with a shout of joy, proclaim this, let it go out to the end of the earth; announce, "The Lord has redeemed His servant^(w) Jacob!"

They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock;^(x) He split the rock, and water gushed out.

"There is no peace for the wicked," says the Lord .^(y)