Isaiah 48 Cross References - ISV

¹ God the Creator and Redeemer “Listen to this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and who have come forth from Judah’s loins; you who swear oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth, nor in good faith. ² For they name themselves after the holy city, and rely on the God of Israel— the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name. ³ I foretold the former things long ago; it went forth from my mouth, and I disclosed them; Suddenly, I acted, and they came to pass. ⁴ Because I knew that you are obstinate, and because your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze, ⁵ I told you these things long ago; I announced them to you before they happened so that you couldn’t say, ‘My idol did them; my carved image or metal idol ordained them.’ ⁶ “You have heard—now look at them all! How can you not admit them? From now on, I’ll make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known. ⁷ They are created now, and not long ago; you didn’t hear them before today, so you cannot say, ‘Yes, I knew them.’ ⁸ And neither had you heard, nor did you understand, nor did you open your ear long ago. Indeed, I knew that you would act very deceitfully, and they would call you a rebel from birth. ⁹ I defer my anger for my name’s sake, and as my first act I’m restraining it for you, so as not to cut you off. ¹⁰ Look, I have refined you, but not like silver; I have purified you in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹ For my own sake—Yes, for my own sake!—I’m doing it; indeed, how can I be profaned? Furthermore, I won’t give my glory to another.”
¹² The LORD Calls Israel“Listen to these things, Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called. I am the One: I am the first, I am even the last. ¹³ Moreover, my hands laid the earth’s foundation, and my right hand spread out the heavens. I call out to them, and they stand up together. ¹⁴ Let all of them come together and listen: Who is there among them that could declare these things? “The LORD loves me, and he will accomplish my purpose against Babylon; his arm will be against the Chaldeans. ¹⁵ I—Yes, I!—have spoken; indeed, I’ve called and I’ve brought him, and he will make his path successful. ¹⁶ Draw near to me, and listen to this: ‘From the beginning I haven’t spoken in secret; at the time it happened, I was there.’ And now the LORD God, and his Spirit, has sent me. ¹⁷ “This is what the LORD says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who directs you in the path by which you should go. ¹⁸ Now if only you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea. ¹⁹ Your descendants would’ve been like the sand, and your offspring like its numberless grains. Their name wouldn’t have been cut off or annihilated out of my reach. ²⁰ “Go out from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! With happy shouts, announce and proclaim this to the ends of the earth: Say, ‘The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!’ ²¹ They didn’t thirst when he led him through the desolate places. He made water gush from a rock for them; he split open the rock, and water gushed out. ²² “But there is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

²⁸ “Your name won’t be Jacob anymore,” the man replied, “but Israel, because you exerted yourself against both God and men, and you’ve emerged victorious.”

¹⁰ Then God told him, “Your name is Jacob. No longer are you to be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.”
So God called his name Israel

¹³ “Be careful about everything I’ve told you, and don’t mention the name of other gods. Don’t let them be heard in your mouth!”

¹² “You are not to use my name to deceive, thereby defiling the name of your God. I am the LORD.

⁷ He will pour water from his buckets, and his descendants will stream forth like abundant water. His king will be more exalted than Agag when he exalts his own kingdom.

²⁸ “The LORD heard what you said. He told me: ‘I’ve heard what this people said. Everything they said was good.

¹³ Fear the LORD your God, serve him, and make your oaths in his name.

²⁰ You are to fear the LORD your God and serve him. Cling to him and swear by his name.

²⁸ So Israel lives in confidence, isolated as the fountain of Jacob in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens rain down dew.

³⁴ To this very day, they still follow the former customs: they don’t fear the LORD and they don’t live in accordance with the statutes, ordinances, laws, or commandments that the LORD had given to the descendants of Jacob—whom he renamed Israel—

¹⁶ As for the wicked, God says, “How dare you recite my statutes or speak about my covenant with your lips! ¹⁷ You hate instruction and toss my words behind you. ¹⁸ When you see a thief, you befriend him, and you keep company with adulterers. ¹⁹ You give your mouth free reign for evil, and your tongue devises deceit. ²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.

¹¹ But as for the king, he will rejoice in God. Indeed, everyone who swears by God will exult, because the mouths of liars will be silenced.

³ Say to God: “How awesome are your works! Because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.”

²⁶ Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD who is the fountain of Israel.

¹⁶ Should your springs flow outside, or streams of water in the street?

¹⁰ “Listen to what the LORD says, you rulers of Sodom, and pay attention to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! ¹¹ “How do your voluminous sacrifices benefit me?” the LORD is asking. “I’ve had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don’t enjoy the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. ¹² “When you come to present yourselves in my presence, who has required you to trample on my courts? ¹³ Stop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly. ¹⁴ As for your New Moons and your appointed festivals, I abhor them. They’ve become a burden to me; I’ve grown weary of carrying that burden.

¹³ O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but through you alone we acknowledge your name.

⁵ One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ and another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will have written on his hand, ‘the LORD’s,’ and will adopt the name of Israel.”

²³ Every Knee will BowBy myself I have sworn— from my mouth has gone out integrity, a promise that won’t be revoked: ‘To me every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear. ’

² They seek me day after day, and are eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practices righteousness and has not forsaken the justice of their God. “They ask me to reveal just decisions; they are eager to draw near to God.

⁸ “The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: ‘I will never again give your grain as food for your enemies; never again will foreigners drink your new wine for which you have toiled;

¹⁶ Then whoever takes an oath by the God of faithfulness, and whoever takes an oath in the land, will swear by the God of faithfulness, because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.

² If you swear, ‘as surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations will be blessed by him, and in him they will boast.”

² Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”

⁹ Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear by false gods, burn incense to Baal, follow other gods that you don’t know, ¹⁰ and then come to stand before me in this house that is called by my name and say, ‘We’re delivered’ so we can continue to do all these things that are repugnant to God?

⁵ I’ll wipe out those who worship the stars that they view from their housetops, those who bow down and swear to the LORD and who also swear by Milcom,

⁵ The Judgment of God“I’ll come near to you for judgment. I’ll be a witness, quick to speak against sorcerers, against adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who defraud the laborer of his wage, against those who defraud the widow and the orphan, against those who deprive the alien of justice, and against those who don’t fear me,” says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

⁸ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ⁹ Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.’”

¹³ “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom from heaven in people’s faces. You don’t go in yourselves, and you don’t allow those who are trying to enter to go in.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, “Look, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!”

²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

¹⁷ Who is a Jew?Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the Law, and boast about God,

²⁸ For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something just external and physical. ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, brought about by the Spirit, not by a written law. That person’s praise will come from God, not from people.

⁶ Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel,

⁸ That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God’s children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants.

² and the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences have been burned by a hot iron.

² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, ⁴ traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. ⁵ They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.

⁹ ‘I know your suffering and your poverty—though you are rich—and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan.

⁹ I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan—those who claim to be Jews and aren’t, but are lying—come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize that I have loved you.

¹³ As for Micah, he kept saying, “Now I know the LORD will make me rich, because I have a descendant of Levi for a priest!”

³ When the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why did the LORD defeat us today when we fought the Philistines? Let’s take the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so it may go with us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.” ⁴ So the people sent word to Shiloh and took away from there the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, who sits above the cherubim.
Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. ⁵ When the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a great shout and the earth reverberated!

¹ Inhabitants of JerusalemThe leaders of the people who lived in Jerusalem, along with the rest of the people, decided to choose one out of ten of them by lot to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, leaving the other nine of them in their towns.

¹⁸ All of the descendants of Levi in the holy city numbered 284.

¹ A song: Lyrics by the Sons of Korah.
Zion, City of God Great is the LORD! For he is to be praised greatly, even in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

³ Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Interlude

²⁰ The Remnant ReturnsAt that time, the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer rely on the one who struck them down, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

⁴ “Our Redeemer— the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.

¹³ As a result, you have forgotten the LORD who made you, who stretched out the heavens and laid the earth’s foundations, and you live in constant fear every day because of the oppressor’s fury, since he’s ready to destroy. Now where is the oppressor’s fury?

¹ The Redemption of Zion Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for the uncircumcised and the unclean won’t enter you.

¹⁰ Your holy cities have become a desert; Zion has become like a desert, Jerusalem a desolation. ¹¹ Our holy Temple and our splendor, where our ancestors praised you, have become a conflagration of fire, and all our dearest places have become ruins.

⁴ Don’t trust deceptive words like these, and say, ‘The Temple of the LORD, the Temple of the LORD, the Temple of the LORD,’ ⁵ but rather, truly change your ways and your deeds. If you truly practice justice between each person and his neighbor, ⁶ and if you don’t oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, and don’t shed an innocent person’s blood in this place, and if you don’t follow other gods to your own harm, ⁷ then I’ll let you dwell in this land, the land that I gave to your ancestors forever and ever. ⁸ “Look, you’re trusting in deceptive words that cannot benefit. ⁹ Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear by false gods, burn incense to Baal, follow other gods that you don’t know, ¹⁰ and then come to stand before me in this house that is called by my name and say, ‘We’re delivered’ so we can continue to do all these things that are repugnant to God? ¹¹ Has this house that is called by my name become a hideout for bandits in your eyes? Look, I’m watching,” declares the LORD.

¹⁶ The Portion of Jacob is not like these. He made everything, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance. The LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name.

² Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is fighting against us. Perhaps the LORD will do some of his miraculous acts for us, and Nebuchadnezzar will depart from us.”

²⁴ Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city: to restrain transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for lawlessness, to establish everlasting righteousness, to conclude vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

¹¹ Her leaders judge for the money, her priests teach only when they’re paid, and her prophets prophesy for cash. Even so, don’t they all rely on the LORD as they ask, ‘The LORD is among us, is he not? Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!’

⁵ Then the devil took him to the Holy City and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple.

⁵³ After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the Holy City, and appeared to many people.

⁴⁰ But now you’re trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would’nt have done that. ⁴¹ You are doing your father’s actions.”
They told him, “We’re not illegitimate children. We have one Father, God himself.”

² But don’t measure the courtyard outside the Temple. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the Holy City for 42 months.

² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

¹⁹ If anyone takes away any words from the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.

⁴⁵ Not one of the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed—all of them came about.

¹⁴ “Look here: today I’m going down the path that everyone on earth takes, and you know with all your hearts and souls that not a single word of all of the good things that the LORD your God spoke about you has failed to happen. Everything has been fulfilled about you—not one of them has failed. ¹⁵ However, just as all of the good things have come about that the LORD your God promised, so also the LORD will bring upon you all of the threats until he has destroyed you from possessing this good land that he has given you.

¹² Assyria will be Judged“For the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and against Jerusalem; he will punish the speech that comes from that willful heart of Assyria’s king and the haughty look in his eyes. ¹³ He keeps bragging: ‘I’ve done it by the strength of my hand, and by my wisdom, because I’m so clever. I removed the boundaries of peoples, and plundered their treasures; like a bull I brought down those who sat on thrones. ¹⁴ My hand has found, as if in a nest, the wealth of the people; and as one gathers eggs that have been abandoned, so I have gathered all the inhabitants of the earth. Nothing moved a wing, opened its mouth, or chirped.’ ¹⁵ “Does the ax exalt itself over the one who swings it? Or does the saw magnify itself in opposition to the one who wields it? As if a rod were to wield those who lift it, or as if a club were to brandish the one who is not wood! ¹⁶ Therefore, the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s sturdy warriors, and under its glory a conflagration will be kindled, like a blazing bonfire. ¹⁷ “The light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame, and it will burn and consume Assyria’s thorns and briers in a single day. ¹⁸ The splendor of its forest and its fruitful land the LORD will destroy— both soul and body— and Assyria will be as when a dying man wastes away. ¹⁹ What survives of the trees in his forest will be so few that a child can count them.”

³³ Behold, the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will lop off its boughs with terrifying power; the tallest in height will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low. ³⁴ He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an ax, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.”

⁷ Watch this! I’m going to place an attitude within him, so that when he hears a certain report, he’ll return to his own country. Then I’ll have him cut down by the sword in his own land.”

²⁹ Your insolence has reached my ears, so I’ll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I’ll make you turn back on the road by which you came.

³⁶ Sennacherib is DefeatedAfter this, the angel of the LORD went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When Hezekiah’s army awakened in the morning—there were all the dead bodies!
³⁷ King Sennacherib broke camp, retreated, returned home to Nineveh, and remained there. ³⁸ Later, while he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with swords and escaped to the land of Ararat. Then Sennacherib’s son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

²² Let them approach and ask us, ‘What will happen? As to the former things, what were they? Tell us, so that we may consider them and know. Or the latter things or the things to come— let us hear.

⁹ See, the former things have taken place, and I’m announcing the new things— before they spring into being
I’m telling you about them.”

⁹ Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. “Who is there among them who can declare this, or announce the former things? Let them produce their witnesses to prove them right, and let them proclaim so people will say, ‘It’s true.’

⁷ Who is like me? Let him proclaim and declare it, and lay it out for himself— since he made an ancient people. And let him speak future events; let them tell him what will happen. ⁸ Don’t tremble, and don’t be afraid. Didn’t I tell you and announce it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock— I don’t know of any.”

²¹ Explain and present a case! Yes, let them take counsel together. Who announced this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides me, a righteous God and Savior; and there is none besides me.

⁹ Remember the former things from long ago, Because I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like me. ¹⁰ I declare from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done; saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and he will accomplish everything that I please.’

⁹ Then the LORD told Moses, “I’ve seen these people and indeed they’re obstinate.

³ Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I won’t go up among you, because you are an obstinate people, and otherwise I might consume you along the way.”

⁵ The LORD had told Moses, “Say to the Israelis, ‘You are an obstinate people, and if for one moment I went up among you, I would put an end to you. Now take off your ornaments so I may decide what to do with you.’”

¹⁶ Therefore, circumcise your heart and stop being stubborn.

²⁷ because indeed I know your rebellion and stubbornness. Note that even while I’m still alive, you’ve been rebelling against the LORD—how much more so after my death!

¹⁴ But they would not listen. Instead, they were stubborn, just like their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.

⁸ So don’t be stiff-necked like your ancestors were. Instead, submit to the LORD, enter his sanctuary that he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God so that he’ll stop being angry with you.

¹³ Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear allegiance in the name of God. Instead, he stiffened his resolve, and hardened his heart, and would not return to the LORD God of Israel.

¹⁶ “But they—our ancestors—became arrogant and stubborn, refusing to listen to your commands. ¹⁷ They would not listen, and did not remember the miracles you did among them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return them to their slavery. “But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in gracious love; therefore you did not abandon them.

²⁸ “But after they had gained relief, they returned to doing evil before you. Therefore you abandoned them to the control of their enemies, who continued to oppress them. But when they came back and cried out to you, you listened from heaven and delivered them in your compassion on many occasions.

⁵ Don’t use your strength to fight heaven or speak from stubborn arrogance.”

⁸ They will not be like the rebellious generation of their ancestors, a rebellious generation, whose heart was not steadfast, and whose spirits were unfaithful to God.

¹ Advice on Life and Justice After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning.

¹² “Listen to me, you hard-hearted, you who are far removed from righteousness:

³ This is why the rain has been withheld and there are no spring showers. Yet you have a harlot’s look and you refuse to be ashamed.

³ The Prophet SpeaksLORD, don’t your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they didn’t flinch. You brought them to an end, but they refused to receive discipline. They made their faces harder than stone, and they refused to repent.

²⁶ But they didn’t listen to me, and they didn’t pay attention. They stiffened their necks, and they did more evil than their ancestors.

¹⁵ “This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I’m about to bring on this city and all its towns all the disaster that I declared against it because they were determined not to obey my message.’”

⁴ Then he told me, “Son of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them, ⁵ because you’re not going to a people whose speech you cannot understand or whose language is difficult to speak. Instead, you’re going to the house of Israel. ⁶ This isn’t a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people, they would certainly have listened to you! ⁷ But the house of Israel won’t listen to you, since they weren’t willing to listen to me. That’s because the entire house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. ⁸ So pay attention! I’m going to make you just as obstinate and unyielding as they are. ⁹ I’m making you harder than flint—like diamond! So you are not to fear them or be intimidated by how they look at you, since they’re a rebellious group.”

²⁰ But when he became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.

¹¹ But they refused to pay attention, turned their backs, and stopped listening. ¹² They made their hearts hard like a diamond, to keep from obeying the Law and the messages that the LORD of the Heavenly Armies sent by his Spirit through the former prophets.

⁵¹ “You stubborn people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.

⁵ But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are reserving wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

¹³ Instead, continue to encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin,

⁸ I, the LORD, am the one, and I won’t give my name and glory to another, nor my praise to idols. ⁹ See, the former things have taken place, and I’m announcing the new things— before they spring into being
I’m telling you about them.”

⁷ Who is like me? Let him proclaim and declare it, and lay it out for himself— since he made an ancient people. And let him speak future events; let them tell him what will happen.

¹⁰ I declare from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done; saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and he will accomplish everything that I please.’

³ I foretold the former things long ago; it went forth from my mouth, and I disclosed them; Suddenly, I acted, and they came to pass.

¹⁵ The Refugees Refuse to RepentThen all the men who knew that their wives were offering sacrifices to other gods and all the women who were standing by—a large group, including all the people who were living in the land of Egypt in Pathros—answered Jeremiah: ¹⁶ “As for the message that you reported to us in the name of the LORD, we won’t listen to you! ¹⁷ Rather, we will keep doing everything that we said we would by offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and by pouring out liquid offerings to her just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of bread, things went well for us, and we didn’t experience disaster. ¹⁸ From the time we stopped offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out liquid offerings to her, we have lacked everything, and we have been consumed by the sword and famine.

⁷⁰ just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets

¹⁸ that have been known from long ago.’

⁹ In the great congregation I have proclaimed the righteous good news. Behold, I did not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. ¹⁰ I have not ignored your righteousness in my heart; instead, I have proclaimed your faithfulness and deliverance. I have not concealed your gracious love and truthfulness from the great congregation.

¹⁵ I will declare your righteousness and your salvation every day, though I do not fully understand what the outcome will be. ¹⁶ Lord GOD, I will come in the power of your mighty acts, remembering your righteousness—yours alone. ¹⁷ God, you taught me from my youth, so I am still declaring your awesome deeds. ¹⁸ Also, when I reach old age and have gray hair, God, do not forsake me, until I have declared your power to this generation and your might to the next one.

³ things that we have heard and known and that our ancestors related to us. ⁴ We will not withhold them from their descendants; we’ll declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD— his might and awesome deeds that he has performed. ⁵ He established a decree in Jacob, and established the Law in Israel, that he commanded our ancestors to reveal to their children ⁶ in order that the next generation— children yet to be born— will know them and in turn teach them to their children.

⁴³ Let whoever is wise observe these things, that they may comprehend the gracious love of the LORD.

¹³ I have spoken with my lips about all your decrees that you have announced.

⁴ One generation will acclaim your works to another and will describe your mighty actions. ⁵ I will speak about the glorious splendor of your majesty as well as your awesome actions.

¹⁰ O my downtrodden people, my wall! I’ll tell you what I have heard from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel.”

⁸ “Bring out the people who are blind, yet still have eyes, who are deaf, yet still have ears! ⁹ Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. “Who is there among them who can declare this, or announce the former things? Let them produce their witnesses to prove them right, and let them proclaim so people will say, ‘It’s true.’ ¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and trust me and understand that I am the One. Before me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me.

¹⁹ Watch! I’m about to carry out something new! And now it’s springing up— don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the wilderness and paths in the desert.

³¹ “You, generation, pay attention to this message from the LORD! Am I the desert to Israel, or a land of gloom? Why do my people say, ‘We’re free to roam? We won’t come to you anymore.’

² “Declare and proclaim among the nations. Lift up a banner and proclaim. Don’t conceal anything. Say, ‘Babylon will be captured. Bel will be disgraced, and Marduk will be destroyed. Her idols will be disgraced, and her filthy images will be destroyed.’

⁸ Daniel’s Unanswered Question“I heard, but I didn’t understand. So I asked, ‘Sir, what happens next?’
⁹ “He answered, ‘Go on your way, Daniel, because these matters are wrapped up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, though the wicked will continue to act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. Nevertheless, the insightful will understand. ¹¹ There will be 1,290 days from the time the regular burnt offering is rescinded and the destructive desolation established. ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres and attains to the 1,335 days. ¹³ Now as for you, keep on going until the end—you’ll rest and then rise to receive your reward at the end of the age.’”

⁶ And when an alarm sounds in the city, the people will tremble, won’t they? If there is trouble in a city, the LORD has brought it about, has he not?”

⁹ A Call to Honest Business PracticesThe voice of the LORD cries out to the city— wisdom fears your name: “Heed the rod, and the one who prepared it!

²⁷ What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.

¹⁵ I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends, because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father.

⁸ But you’ll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you’ll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

²⁵ Final DoxologyNow to the one who is able to strengthen you with my gospel and the message that I preach about Jesus, the Messiah, by revealing the secret that was kept hidden from long ago ²⁶ but now has been made known through the prophets to all the gentiles, in keeping with the decree of the eternal God to bring them to the obedience that springs from faith—

⁹ But as it is written, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”

¹⁰ Even the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, carefully researched and investigated this salvation. ¹¹ They tried to find out what era or specific time the Spirit of the Messiah in them kept referring to when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look into.

¹⁹ Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after this.

¹ The Vision of God’s ThroneAfter these things, I saw a door standing open in heaven. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”

¹ The Vision of the Scroll with Seven SealsThen I saw in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the outside, sealed with seven seals. ² I also saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

¹ The Vision of the First Seal OpenedThen I saw the lamb open the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Go!” ² Then I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow, and a victor’s crown had been given to him. He went out as a conqueror to conquer.
³ The Vision of the Second Seal OpenedWhen the lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Go!” ⁴ A second horse went out. It was fiery red, and its rider was given permission to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword.
⁵ The Vision of the Third Seal OpenedWhen the lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Go!” I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a scale in his hand. ⁶ I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “One day’s ration of wheat for a day’s wage, or three day’s ration of barley for a day’s wage! But don’t damage the olive oil or the wine!”
⁷ The Vision of the Fourth Seal OpenedWhen the lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Go!” ⁸ I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth to kill people using wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals of the earth.
⁹ The Vision of the Fifth Seal OpenedWhen the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Sovereign, how long will it be before you judge and take revenge on those living on the earth who shed our blood?” ¹¹ Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been.
¹² The Vision of the Sixth Seal OpenedThen I saw the lamb open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned as red as blood. ¹³ The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴ The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. ¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. ¹⁶ They told the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?”

⁷ Israel Broke the Covenant“Remember—and don’t ever forget—how you provoked the LORD your God in the desert. From the day that you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place you have been rebelling against the LORD. ⁸ At Horeb you continually rebelled against the LORD, so that he was angry enough to destroy you. ⁹ Then I went up to the mountain to receive the two stone Tablets of the Covenant that the LORD had established with you. I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights without eating food or drinking water. ¹⁰ Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets on which God inscribed with his own finger all the words that the LORD spoke to you on the mountain from the middle of the fire that day when you were all assembled together. ¹¹ At the end of 40 days and nights, the LORD gave to me the two stone Tablets of the Covenant.
¹² “Then the LORD told me, ‘Get going! Go down from here at once! Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have become corrupt. They have turned quickly from the way that I commanded them, and have cast an idol for their use.’
¹³ “Then the LORD told me, ‘I have examined this people, and they are stubborn indeed. ¹⁴ Let me alone! I will destroy them and blot out their name under heaven. Then I’ll make you into a nation that will be mighty and more numerous than they are.’
¹⁵ “So I turned and went down from the mountain while the mountain was on fire. The two Tablets of the Covenant were in both of my hands. ¹⁶ Then I saw how you had really sinned against the LORD your God! You had made for yourselves a calf, a cast idol. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD your God had commanded. ¹⁷ So I grabbed the two tablets and then threw them out of my hands, breaking them before your eyes. ¹⁸ I fell down in the LORD’s presence, just as I had the first 40 days and nights. I did not eat food or drink water because of your sin. You had sinned by committing this evil in the sight of the LORD, thereby provoking him to anger. ¹⁹ I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD against you, because he was irate enough to destroy you. But the LORD also listened to me at that time. ²⁰ It was as had been the case with Aaron, the LORD was very angry and about to destroy him, but I prayed for Aaron at that time. ²¹ Now, when you made the calf that made you sin, I grabbed it, burned it with fire, crushed it, and ground it thoroughly until it was pulverized to powder. Then I threw the powder into the river that was flowing from the mountain.”
²² Moses Interceded for Israel“You provoked the LORD again at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah. ²³ When the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea and told you, ‘Go possess the land that I gave you,’ instead you disobeyed what the LORD your God said. You didn’t trust him or listen to his voice. ²⁴ You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I knew you.

⁶ You take no delight in sacrifices and offerings— you have prepared my ears to listen— you require no burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.

⁵ Indeed, in iniquity I was brought forth; in sin my mother conceived me.

³ The wicked go astray from the womb; they go astray, telling lies even from birth.

¹ To the Music Director: A Davidic Song
God’s Knowledge and Presence LORD, you have examined me; you have known me. ² You know when I rest and when I am active. You understand what I am thinking when I am distant from you. ³ You scrutinize my life and my rest; you are familiar with all of my ways. ⁴ Even before I have formed a word with my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely!

⁹ “Go!” he responded. “Tell this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ ¹⁰ Dull the mind of this people, deafen their ears, and blind their eyes. By doing so, they won’t see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.”

² A dire vision has been announced to me: the traitor betrays, and the plunderer takes loot. Get up, Elam! Attack, Media! I am putting a stop to all the groaning she has caused.

¹¹ “LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. And let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame— yes, let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them!

¹⁰ For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep— he has closed your eyes, you prophets, he has covered your heads, you seers!”
¹¹ “And this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers, ‘I cannot, because it is sealed.’

¹⁹ Who is blind except my servant, or deaf like my messenger I am sending? Who is blind like the one committed to me, or blind like the LORD’s servant? ²⁰ You’ve seen many things, but you pay no attention. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.

⁸ “Remember this, and stand firm; take it again to heart, you rebels.

⁴ Because I knew that you are obstinate, and because your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze,

⁵ My Lord GOD has opened my ears, and I did not rebel; I did not shrink back.

⁷ I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to me.’ But she didn’t return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw this. ⁸ I saw that even though I had sent unfaithful Israel away for all her adulteries and had given her a divorce decree, her treacherous sister Judah didn’t fear, and she, too, committed adultery. ⁹ She took her fornication so lightly that she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. ¹⁰ Yet in all this her treacherous sister Judah didn’t return to me with her whole heart, but rather deceptively,” declares the LORD.
¹¹ A Call for RepentanceThen the LORD told me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

²⁰ Instead, like an unfaithful wife leaves her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel,” declares the LORD.

¹¹ For both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the LORD.

²¹ ‘Hear this, you foolish and stupid people: They have eyes, but don’t see; they have ears, but don’t hear.

¹⁰ To whom will I speak and give a warning so they’ll listen? Look, their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. Look, this message from the LORD is contemptible to them; they don’t delight in it.

³ You are to declare, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: “Your birth place was the territory that belonged to the Canaanites. Your father was an Ammonite and your mother was a Hittite. ⁴ Now as to your birth, on the day you were born your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to clean you, and nobody rubbed you with salt. And it’s certain that you weren’t wrapped in strips of cloth. ⁵ Nobody pitied you to do any of these things for you, and nobody showed you any compassion. You were tossed outside on the ground, because you were detested from the day you were born.

⁷ They have been unfaithful to the LORD, having raised unbelieving children. In the coming month they will be devoured, along with their fields.

⁷ “But like Adam, they broke the covenant; in this they have acted deceitfully against me.

¹¹ Judah has become unfaithful, and a detestable thing was committed in Israel and Jerusalem. Indeed, Judah profaned the Holy Place of the LORD, which he loves, and married a daughter of a foreign god.

¹³ That’s why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but don’t see, and they listen but don’t hear or understand.’
¹⁴ “With them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says: ‘You will listen and listen but never understand. You will look and look but never comprehend, ¹⁵ for this people’s heart has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

³⁹ This is why they could not believe: Isaiah also said, ⁴⁰ “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not perceive with their eyes, and understand with their mind and turn, and I would heal them.”

³ Indeed, all of us once behaved like them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we were destined for wrath, just like everyone else.

⁹ The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate us from the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?”

²² Indeed, the LORD won’t abandon His people for the sake of His great name, for the LORD desires to make you a people for himself.

³⁰ You were patient with them for many years, warning them by your Spirit through your prophets. But they would not listen, so you turned them over to the control of people in other lands. ³¹ Nevertheless, in your great compassion you did not completely destroy them or abandon them, because you are a God of grace and you are merciful.

¹¹ For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my sin, for it is great.

³⁸ But he, being merciful, forgave their iniquity and didn’t destroy them; He restrained his anger and didn’t vent all his wrath.

⁹ Help us, God, our deliverer, on account of your glorious name, deliver us and forgive our sins on account of your name.

⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious, patient, and abundantly rich in gracious love. ⁹ He does not maintain a dispute continuously or remain angry for all time. ¹⁰ He neither deals with us according to our sins, nor repays us equivalent to our iniquity.

⁸ He delivered for the sake of his name, to make his power known.

¹¹ For the sake of your name, LORD, preserve my life. Because you are righteous, bring me out of trouble.

¹¹ A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.

¹⁸ Restoration is Promised to Israel“Nevertheless, the LORD will wait so he can be gracious to you; and thus he will rise up to show you mercy. For the LORD is a God of justice. How blessed are all those who wait for him.”

³⁵ ‘because I will defend this city and deliver it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David!’”

²⁵ “I, I am the one who blots out your transgression for my own sake, and I’ll remember your sins no more.

¹¹ For my own sake—Yes, for my own sake!—I’m doing it; indeed, how can I be profaned? Furthermore, I won’t give my glory to another.”

⁷ The People Cry for HelpLORD, even though our iniquities testify against us, do something for the sake of your name. Indeed, our apostasies are many, and we have sinned against you.

⁹ I did this so my reputation might not be tarnished among the nations where they were living, among whom I made myself known in their presence when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ I did this so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.

²² But I withdrew my decision so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out.

⁴⁴ Then you’ll know that I am the LORD, when I will have dealt with you for the benefit of my own reputation and not according to your evil attitudes or corrupt practices, you house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.

¹⁷ ‘So now, O God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his requests, and look with favor on your desolate sanctuary, for the sake of the Lord. ¹⁸ Turn your ear and listen, O God. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and at the city that is called by your name. We’re not presenting our requests before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great compassion. ¹⁹ ‘Lord, listen!‘Lord, forgive!‘Lord, take note and take action!‘For your own sake, don’t delay, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.’”

²⁰ For the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace—out of Egypt—to be the people of his inheritance, as you are today.

⁵¹ since they are your people and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from an iron fire furnace.

¹⁰ Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I’ll come out like gold.

¹⁰ For you, God, tested us, to purify us like fine silver.

³ The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts.

²⁵ When I turn my attention to you, I’ll refine your dross as in a furnace. I’ll remove all your alloy. ²⁶ Let me restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you’ll be called ‘The Righteous City’ and ‘The Faithful City of Zion’.

⁷ Therefore, this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “Look, I’m about to refine and test them. Because they’re my people, what else can I do?

³⁸ I’ll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. I’ll bring them out of the land where you’ve lived, but they won’t be able to enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll know that I am the LORD.”

¹⁸ “Son of Man, Israel has become like dross to me. All of them are like remnants of bronze, tin, iron, and lead in a furnace—the dross left over from smelting silver. ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says, ‘Because all of you have become dross, watch out! I’m going to gather all of you at the center of Jerusalem, ²⁰ just like a smelter gathers all the silver, bronze, lead, and tin to the center of a furnace and injects fire in order to melt it, I’m going to gather you in my anger and rage, make you settle down—and then I’m going to melt you down. ²¹ Indeed, I’m going to gather you together and exhale the fire of my fury, and then you’ll be melted from the inside out ²² like melting silver at the center of a furnace. When you’ve been melted from the center out, then you’ll know that I am the LORD. I’ll pour out my anger on you.’”

⁸ It will come about in all of the land,” declares the LORD, “that two thirds of the people living there will die, but a third will survive who live there. ⁹ And I will bring that surviving third through, testing them as if through fire, purifying them like silver, assaying them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

² But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? Because he’s like a refiner’s fire and a launderer’s soap, ³ he will sit refining and purifying silver, purifying the descendants of Levi, refining them like gold and silver. Then they’ll bring a righteous offering to the LORD.

¹⁰ For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

⁷ so that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.

¹² Suffering as a ChristianDear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

¹⁹ I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent!

¹⁵ But if you slaughter this people all at the same time, then the nations who heard about your fame will say, ¹⁶ ‘The LORD slaughtered this people in the wilderness because he wasn’t able to bring them to the land that he promised them.’

²⁶ “I said, ‘I will scatter them, erasing their memory from the human race, ²⁷ if it weren’t for dreading the taunting of their enemies— otherwise, their adversary might misinterpret and say, “Our power is great. It isn’t the LORD who made all of this happen.”’”

⁸ I, the LORD, am the one, and I won’t give my name and glory to another, nor my praise to idols.

⁵ I told you these things long ago; I announced them to you before they happened so that you couldn’t say, ‘My idol did them; my carved image or metal idol ordained them.’

⁵ “Now therefore, what am I doing here,” asks the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Those who rule over them are deluded,” says the LORD, “and continuously, all the day long, my name is blasphemed.

³⁹ The Coming Regathering of IsraelAnd now, you house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says, “Go ahead and serve your idols, both now and later, but later you’ll listen to me, and you won’t profane my sacred name again by your offerings and idols.

²³ so that everyone may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

²⁴ As it is written, “God’s name is being blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.”

³⁹ “Look now! I AM, and there is no other god besides me. I myself cause death and I sustain life; I wound severely and I also heal; from my power no one can deliver.

²⁴ So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I have to say.

³² The Exhortation of Wisdom“So listen to me, children! Blessed are those who obey me.

¹ Judgment of the Nations “Come near, you nations, to listen, and pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes out of it.

⁴ Who has performed and carried this out, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and will be with the last —I am the One!”

¹¹ I, yes I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.

⁶ I am the First and the LastThis is what the LORD says, the King of Israel and its Redeemer— the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name— “I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God.

³ “Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all you remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld from before your birth, and who have been carried from the womb.

¹ The Servant of the LORD “Listen to me, you coastlands! Pay attention, you people from far away! The LORD called me from the womb; while I was still in my mother’s body, he pronounced my name.

¹ Deliverance for Zion “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD! Look to the rock from which you were cut, to the quarry from which you were hewn.

⁴ “Pay attention to me, my people! Listen to me, my nation! For instruction will go out from me, and my justice will become a light for the nations. I will quickly bring

⁷ Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my instruction in their hearts. Don’t fear the insults of mortals, and don’t be dismayed at their hateful words.

³ Pay attention to me, come to me; and listen, so that you may live; then I’ll make an everlasting covenant with you, as promised by my faithful, sure love for David.

¹⁶ “In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen.”

⁶ You, too, are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus the Messiah.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.

²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah is God’s power and God’s wisdom.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” declares the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

¹¹ saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, “Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ the living one. I was dead—but look!—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades.

⁸ The Letter to the Church in Smyrna“To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write:
‘The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:

¹⁴ They will wage war against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.”

¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

¹¹ because the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, in six days, then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.ה

¹⁸ Can you spread out the skies like he does; can you cast them as one might a mirror?

²⁵ You established the earth long ago; the heavens are the work of your hands.

⁸⁹ Lamed
Pay Attention to God’s WordYour word is forever, LORD; it is firmly established in heaven. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation. You established the earth, and it stands firm. ⁹¹ To this day they stand by means of your rulings, for all things serve you.

⁴ He keeps track of the number of stars, assigning names to all of them.

⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he himself gave the command that they be created. ⁶ He set them in place to last forever and ever; he gave the command and will not rescind it. ⁷ Praise the LORD, you from the earth, you creatures of the sea and all you depths, ⁸ fire, hail, snow, fog, and wind storm that carry out his command,

¹² Who is Like the LORD?“Who has measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the width of his hand? Who has enclosed the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl, or weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

²² He’s the one who sits above the disk of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He’s the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in,

²⁶ “Lift your eyes up to heaven and see who created all these— the one who leads out their vast array of stars by number, calling them all by name— because of his great might and his powerful strength— and not one is missing.”

⁵ God Speaks about the ServantThis is what God says— the God who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its produce, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:

¹⁸ For this is what the LORD says, who created the heavens— he is God, and the one who formed the earth and made it, and he is the one who established it; he didn’t create it for chaos, but formed it to be inhabited— “I am the LORD and there is no other.

¹⁰ And, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. ¹¹ They will come to an end, but you will remain forever. They will all wear out like clothes. ¹² You will roll them up like a robe, and they will be changed like clothes. But you remain the same, and your life will never end.”

⁴ “Listen! There’s a noise on the mountains like that of a great multitude! Listen! There’s an uproar among the kingdoms, like that of nations massing together! The LORD of the Heavenly Armies is mustering an army for battle. ⁵ They’re coming from a faraway land, from the distant horizon— the LORD and the weapons of his anger— to destroy the entire land.”

¹⁷ Babylon FallsWatch out! I’m stirring up the Medes against them, who care nothing for silver and take no delight in gold. ¹⁸ Their bows will dash the young men to pieces; they’ll show no pity on those not yet born, and their eyes will not spare children.

²⁸ who says about Cyrus, “He’s my shepherd, and he’ll carry out everything that I please: He’ll say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of my Temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid again.’”’”

²⁰ “Gather together and come; draw near and enter, your fugitives from the nations. Those who carry around their wooden idols know nothing, nor do those who keep praying to a god that cannot save. ²¹ Explain and present a case! Yes, let them take counsel together. Who announced this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides me, a righteous God and Savior; and there is none besides me.

¹⁰ I declare from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done; saying, ‘My purpose will stand, and he will accomplish everything that I please.’ ¹¹ I am calling a bird of prey from the east, and from a far country a man with his purpose. Indeed, I’ve spoken; I will certainly make it happen; I’ve planned it; and I will certainly carry it out.

²¹ God’s Judgment on Babylon“Go up against the land of Merathaim and the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill them with swords, and completely destroy them,” declares the LORD, “and do everything that I’ve commanded you. ²² The noise of battle is in the land, and great destruction. ²³ How the hammer of all the earth is cut off and broken! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations! ²⁴ I’ll set a trap for you, and you will be caught, Babylon, but you don’t realize it. You will be found and also seized, because you challenged the LORD! ²⁵ “The LORD will open his armory, and bring out the weapons of his anger. Indeed, a work of the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will be in the land of the Chaldeans. ²⁶ Come to her from afar. Open up her barns. Pile her up like heaps of grain, and completely destroy her. Don’t leave any survivors. ²⁷ Put all her bulls to the sword, let them go down to the slaughter. How terrible for them because their day has come, the time of their judgment. ²⁸ “The sound of fugitives and refugees will come from the land of Babylon to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his Temple. ²⁹ “Summon many to Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Camp all around her, let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds. Do to her just as she has done. For she has behaved arrogantly against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.

²⁰ The LORD’s Instrument of Judgment“You are my war-club and weapons of war. I’ll smash nations with you and destroy kingdoms with you. ²¹ I’ll smash the horse and its rider with you. I’ll smash the chariot and its rider with you. ²² I’ll smash man and woman with you. I’ll smash old man and young boy with you. I’ll smash young man and young woman with you. ²³ I’ll smash the shepherd and his flock with you. I’ll smash the farmer and his team of oxen with you. I’ll smash governors and officials with you.
²⁴ “Before your eyes I’ll repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil that they did in Zion,” declares the LORD.

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, “You’re missing one thing. Go and sell everything you own, give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.”

⁸ This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that’s written in it, for then you’ll prosper and succeed.

⁴ In your majesty ride forth for the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness; and your strong right hand will teach you awesome things.

¹ Cyrus: God’s Deliverer This is what the LORD says to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, as I strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him and gates that cannot keep closed: ² “I myself will go before you, and he will make the mountains level; I’ll shatter bronze doors and cut through iron bars.

² The Vision of the Fire CloudOn the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s imprisonment in exile,

¹ The Reign of the Davidic King “A shoot will come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit from his roots. ² The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. ³ His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He won’t judge by what his eyes see, nor decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴ but with righteousness he will judge the needy, and decide with equity for earth’s poor. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and the wicked will be killed with the breath of his lips. ⁵ Righteousness will be the sash around his loins, and faithfulness the belt around his waist.”

¹ The LORD Comes as Judge “Be silent before me, you coastlands, and let the people renew their strength! Let them come forward, then let them speak together— let’s draw near for a ruling.

¹⁹ I didn’t speak in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I didn’t say to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in chaos.’ I, the LORD, speak truth, declaring what is right.

³ I foretold the former things long ago; it went forth from my mouth, and I disclosed them; Suddenly, I acted, and they came to pass. ⁴ Because I knew that you are obstinate, and because your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze, ⁵ I told you these things long ago; I announced them to you before they happened so that you couldn’t say, ‘My idol did them; my carved image or metal idol ordained them.’ ⁶ “You have heard—now look at them all! How can you not admit them? From now on, I’ll make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known.

¹ Good News of Deliverance “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed and to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners; ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; ³ to provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” “Then people will call them “Oaks of Righteousness”, “The Planting of the LORD”, in order to display his splendor.

⁸ For this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: “In pursuit of glory I was sent to the nations who plundered you, because whoever injures you injures the pupil of my eye. ⁹ And look, I will shake my fist over them, and they will become plunder for their former slaves. And you will know that the LORD of the Heavenly Armies sent me.”’”
¹⁰ The LORD will Live in Zion“Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! Take note! I am coming to live in your midst,” declares the LORD. ¹¹ “Many nations will cling to the LORD at that time and will become my people. I will live in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of the Heavenly Armies has sent me to you.

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free,

³⁴ The one whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God does not give the Spirit in limited measure to him.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret.

²¹ Jesus told them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and told them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ You may say to yourselves, ‘I have become wealthy by my own strength and by my own ability.’ ¹⁸ But remember the LORD your God, because he is the one who gives you the ability to produce wealth, in order to confirm his covenant that he promised by an oath to your ancestors, as is the case today.

³⁶ then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. Indeed, teach them the best way to live and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as an inheritance.

²¹ Eliphaz Challenges Job to Repent“Get to know God, and you’ll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you. ²² Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

²² “Indeed, God is exalted in his power. Who is like him as a teacher?

⁸ The LORD is good and just; therefore he will teach sinners concerning the way. ⁹ He will guide the humble to justice; he will teach the humble his way.

¹² Who is the man who fears the LORD? God will teach him the path he should choose.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you concerning the path you should walk; I will direct you with my eye.

¹⁷ God, you taught me from my youth, so I am still declaring your awesome deeds.

²⁴ You will guide me with your wise advice, and later you will receive me with honor.

³ Many groups of people will come, commenting, “Come! Let’s go up to the Temple of the God of Jacob, that they may teach us his ways. Then let’s walk in his paths.”
The Rule of God from Jerusalem “Instruction will proceed from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

²⁰ And although the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers won’t hide themselves anymore, but your own eyes will see your teachers.

¹⁴ This is what the LORD says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring them all down as fugitives. Now as for the Babylonians, their ringing cry will become lamentation.

¹⁶ Something New for IsraelThis is what the LORD says — who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,

⁶ I am the First and the LastThis is what the LORD says, the King of Israel and its Redeemer— the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name— “I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God. ⁷ Who is like me? Let him proclaim and declare it, and lay it out for himself— since he made an ancient people. And let him speak future events; let them tell him what will happen. ⁸ Don’t tremble, and don’t be afraid. Didn’t I tell you and announce it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock— I don’t know of any.”
⁹ A Rebuke to Idol WorshipNow, all the forming of images means nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their own witnesses cannot see, and they know nothing. So they will be put to shame.
¹⁰ Who would shape a god or cast an image that profits nothing? ¹¹ To be sure, all who associate with it will be put to shame; and as for the craftsmen, they are only human. Let them all gather together and take their stand. Then let them be terrified—they will be humiliated together.
¹² The blacksmith prepares a tool and works in the coals, then fashions an idol with hammers, working by the strength of his arm. He even becomes hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.
¹³ The carpenter measures it with a line; he traces its shape with a stylus, then fashions it with planes and shapes it with a compass. He makes the idol like a human figure, with human beauty, to be at home in a shrine. ¹⁴ He cuts down cedars, or chooses a cypress tree or an oak, and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. Or he plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow. ¹⁵ He divides it up for people to burn. Taking part of it, he warms himself, makes a fire, and bakes bread. Or perhaps he constructs a god and worships it. He makes it an idol and bows down to it. ¹⁶ Half the wood he burns in the fire, and over that half he places meat so he can eat. He sits by its coals, warms himself, and says, “Ah! I am warm in front of the fire.” ¹⁷ And the rest of it he makes into a god. To blocks of wood he bows down, worships, prays, and says, “Save me, since you are my god.”
¹⁸ They don’t realize; they don’t understand, because their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds, too, so they cannot understand. ¹⁹ No one stops to think. No one has the knowledge or understanding to think—yes to think!—“Half of it I burned in the fire. I even baked bread on its coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And am I about to make detestable things from what is left? Am I about to bow down to blocks of wood?” ²⁰ He tends ashes. A deceived mind has lead him astray. It cannot be his life, nor can he say, “There’s a lie in my right hand.”
²¹ A Call to Remembrance and Joy“Remember these things, Jacob, Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you; you are a servant to me. Israel, you must not mislead me. ²² I’ve wiped away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist. Return to me; because I’ve redeemed you. ²³ “Shout for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout aloud, you depths of the earth! Burst out with singing, you mountains, you forest, and all your trees! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and will display his glory in Israel. ²⁴ “This is what the LORD says, your Redeemer and the one who formed you in the womb: ‘I am the LORD, who has made everything, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth— Who was with me at that time?—

²⁰ “Go out from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! With happy shouts, announce and proclaim this to the ends of the earth: Say, ‘The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!’

⁷ “This is what my Lord says— the LORD your Redeemer, O Israel, and his Holy One— to one despised by people, to those abhorred as a nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings see and arise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, the one who has chosen you.”

⁹ saying to captives, ‘Come out!’ and to those who are in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed on all the mountains, and their pasture will be on all the barren hills. ¹⁰ They won’t hunger or thirst, nor will the desert heat or sun beat upon them; for the one who has compassion on them will drive them and guide them alongside springs of water.

⁵ For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name, and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of the whole earth.

¹³ Then all your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s prosperity.

¹⁶ Israel Refuses to RepentThis is what the LORD says: “Stand beside the roads and watch. Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is. Walk in it and find rest for yourselves. But they said, ‘We won’t walk in it!’

³³ “Rather, this is the covenant that I’ll make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD. “I’ll put my Law within them and will write it on their hearts. I’ll be their God and they will be my people. ³⁴ No longer will a person teach his neighbor or his relative: ‘Know the LORD.’ Instead, they’ll all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD. “Indeed, I’ll forgive their iniquity, and I’ll remember their sin no more.”

² Many nations will approach and say, ‘Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the Temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk according to his directions.’ “Indeed, the Law will proceed from Zion, and the message of the LORD from Jerusalem.

⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets, ‘And all of them will be taught by God.’ Everyone who has listened to the Father and has learned anything comes to me.

²¹ Surely you have listened to him and have been taught by him, since truth is in Jesus.

²⁹ If only they would commit to fear me and keep all my commands, then it will go well with them and their children forever.

²⁹ O, that they were wise to understand this and consider their future!

⁸ They are refreshed from the abundance of your house; You cause them to drink from the river of your pleasures.

¹³ If only my people would obey me, if only Israel would walk in my ways! ¹⁴ Then I would quickly subdue their enemies. I would turn against their foes. ¹⁵ Those who hate the LORD will cringe before him; their punishment will be permanent. ¹⁶ But I will feed Israel with the finest wheat, satisfying you with honey from the rock.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace belongs to those who love your instruction, and nothing makes them stumble.

¹⁵ until the Spirit from on high is poured upon us, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.”
¹⁶ Restoration of God’s Reign“Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will dwell in the fertile field. ¹⁷ The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. ¹⁸ My people will live in peaceful dwellings, in secure homes and in undisturbed resting places.

⁸ “Shout, you skies above, and you clouds, and let righteousness stream down. I am the one who says to the earth, ‘Let salvation blossom, and let righteousness sprout forth.’

¹² The Rule of GodThis is what the LORD says: “See, I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; and you will nurse, and you will be carried on her hip, and bounced upon her knees.

²⁴ “But let justice roll on like many waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing river.

³⁷ Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

⁴¹ When he came closer and saw the city, he began to grieve over it: ⁴² “If you had only known today what could have brought you peace! But now it is hidden from your sight,

¹⁷ For God’s kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁶ I’ll make your descendants as plentiful as the specks of dust of the earth, so that if one could count the specks of dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

¹⁷ I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies.

¹⁰ along with Mahlon’s wife Ruth the Moabite woman. I will marry her to continue the family name as an inheritance, so that the name of the deceased does not disappear from among his relatives, nor from the public record. You are all witnesses today!”

⁷ then I will eliminate Israel from the land that I gave them and from the Temple that I’ve consecrated for my name. I will throw them out of my sight, and Israel will become the butt of jokes and a means of ridicule among people worldwide!

⁵ You rebuked the nations, you destroyed the wicked, you wiped out their name forever and ever.

¹³ May his descendants be eliminated, and their memory be erased from the next generation.

¹⁴ So the LORD has cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day—

²² For even if your people of Israel number as many as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Overwhelming, righteous destruction is decreed,

²² Babylon’s Desolation“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and I will eliminate from Babylon her name and survivors, her offspring and descendants,” declares the LORD.

⁹ I defer my anger for my name’s sake, and as my first act I’m restraining it for you, so as not to cut you off.

⁵ to them I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

²² “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I am about to make will endure before me,” says the LORD, “so will your descendants and your name endure.

²² As the heavenly bodies cannot be counted, and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I’ll multiply the descendants of my servant David and the descendants of Levi who serve me.’”

¹⁰ Despite this, the number of the people of Israel will be like ocean sand, which can neither be measured nor counted. And the time will come when instead of it being said, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’

⁴ “I will also stretch out my hand against Judah, and upon all inhabitants of Jerusalem. I’ll wipe out every trace of Baal from this place, and the name of the pagan priests, along with my own priests.

²⁷ Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel, “Although the descendants of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will be saved.

¹ The Song of MosesThen Moses and the Israelis sang this song to the LORD: “I’ll sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea. ² The LORD is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God and I’ll praise him, the God of my father and I’ll exalt him. ³ The LORD is a man of war, the LORD is his name! ⁴ “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea; his best officers sank in the Reed Sea. ⁵ The deep covered them, they went down into the depths like a rock. ⁶ Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in strength, your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy. ⁷ In the greatness of your majesty you broke down your enemies. You sent forth your anger, it consumed them like stubble. ⁸ By the breath of your nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing waters stood up like a hill, the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. ⁹ “The enemy said, ‘I’ll pursue them, I’ll overtake them, I’ll divide the spoil. I’ll satisfy my anger on them, I’ll draw my sword, and my hand will bring them to ruin.’ ¹⁰ “You blew with your breath, and the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty water. ¹¹ “Who is like you among the gods, LORD? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, and working wonders? ¹² You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. ¹³ “You have led with your gracious love this people whom you redeemed. You have guided them with your strength to your holy dwelling. ¹⁴ “The people heard and they quaked, anguish has seized the inhabitants of Philistia. ¹⁵ Then the chiefs of Edom were terrified, the nobles of Moab trembled uncontrollably, and all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. ¹⁶ Dread and fear have fallen on them, because of the strength of your arm. They have become silent as a stone, until your people pass by, LORD, until this people you acquired pass by. ¹⁷ “You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance. You have made a place where you will reside, LORD. Your own hands have established a sanctuary, LORD. ¹⁸ The LORD will reign forever and ever.”
¹⁹ When the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen went into the sea, the LORD caused the waters of the sea to come back over them, but the Israelis walked through the middle of the sea on dry land.
²⁰ The Song of MiriamThen Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand and went out with all the women behind her with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them, “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted! The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.”

⁴ ‘You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you are to be my special possession out of all the peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me, ⁶ but you are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.’ These are the words you are to declare to the Israelis.”

²³ “And who is like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to carry out for them great and awe-inspiring accomplishments, driving out nations and their gods in front of your people, whom you redeemed to yourself from Egypt?

¹ A Song of Ascents
The Exiles Restored When the LORD brought back Zion’s exiles, we were like dreamers.

¹ Israel’s Praise to the LORD At that time, you will say: “I will praise you, LORD, for although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me.

¹ The Song of Redeemed Judah At that time, people will sing this song in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God crafts victory, its walls and ramparts.

²² Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.
²³ Every Knee will BowBy myself I have sworn— from my mouth has gone out integrity, a promise that won’t be revoked: ‘To me every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear. ’

⁶ “You have heard—now look at them all! How can you not admit them? From now on, I’ll make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known.

¹³ Shout with joy, you heavens, and rock with glee, you earth! Break out in song, you mountains! The LORD is comforting his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

⁹ “Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, and he has redeemed Jerusalem.

¹¹ “Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

⁹ In all their distress he wasn’t distressed, but the angel of his presence saved them; in his acts of love and in his acts of pity he redeemed them; he carried them and lifted them up all the days of old.

¹⁰ Nations, listen to this message from the LORD, and declare it in the distant coastlands. Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”

¹² They’ll come and cry out with joy on the heights of Zion. They’ll be radiant over the LORD’s goodness, over the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil, and over the young of the flocks and herds. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden. They’ll never again grow faint. ¹³ The virgins will rejoice with dancing, together with young men and old men. For I’ll turn their mourning into joy, and I’ll comfort them and give them gladness instead of sorrow.

⁸ Move away from the middle of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans. Be like male goats at the head of the flock.

⁶ Flee from Babylon, and each of you, escape with your life! Don’t be destroyed because of her guilt, for it’s time for the LORD’s vengeance. He is paying back what is due to her.

⁴⁵ “Come out of her, my people, flee for your lives from the LORD’s anger!

⁴⁸ Then the heavens and the earth and all that are in them will shout for joy about Babylon because the destroyers will come out of the north against her,” declares the LORD.

⁶ “‘Come now! Come now! Flee from the land of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I have dispersed you like the four winds of heaven,’ declares the LORD.
⁷ “‘Come now, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the residents of Babylon.

⁴ The Warning to Leave BabylonThen I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you don’t participate in her sins and also suffer from her diseases.

²⁰ Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has condemned her for you!”

¹ The Vision of WorshipAfter these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God. ² His judgments are true and just. He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her immorality. He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.” ³ A second time they said, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.” ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!” ⁵ A voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all who serve and fear him, from the least important to the most important.”
⁶ The Vision of the Marriage Supper of the LambThen I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying, “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning.

⁶ I’ll be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock and water will come out of it, so the people can drink.” Moses did this in front of the elders of Israel.

¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Lots of water gushed out, and both the community and their cattle were able to drink.

¹⁵ You gave them food from heaven for their hunger and water from the rock for their thirst. You directed them to enter and possess the land that you had promised to give them.

¹⁵ He caused the rocks to split in the wilderness, and gave them water as from an abundant sea.

²⁰ It’s true that Moses struck the rock so that water flowed forth and torrents of water gushed out, but is he also able to give bread or to supply meat for his people?”

⁴¹ He opened a rock, and water gushed out flowing like a river in the desert.

²⁵ And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks and canals running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

⁶ then the lame will leap like deer, and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy. Yes, waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will run through the desert; ⁷ the burning sands will become a pool, and the thirsty ground fountains of water. In the haunts of jackals there will be a verdant resting place with reeds and rushes.”

¹⁷ “As for the poor, the needy, those seeking water— when there is none and their tongues are parched from thirst— I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, won’t abandon them. ¹⁸ I’ll open up rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I’ll turn the desert into a pool of water, and the parched land into springs of water.

¹⁹ Watch! I’m about to carry out something new! And now it’s springing up— don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the wilderness and paths in the desert. ²⁰ Wild animals, jackals, and owls will honor me because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give drink to my people, my chosen ones,

¹⁰ They won’t hunger or thirst, nor will the desert heat or sun beat upon them; for the one who has compassion on them will drive them and guide them alongside springs of water.

⁹ They’ll come crying, and I’ll lead them as they pray for mercy. I’ll make them walk by streams of water, along a straight path on which they won’t stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

²⁰ “The wicked person writhes in pain throughout his life, a number of years has been reserved for the ruthless. ²¹ Terrifying sounds ring in his ears; when times are prosperous, the Destroyer will attack him. ²² He does not believe he will escape darkness; he is destined for the sword. ²³ He wanders around for food—where is it? He knows that a time of darkness is near. ²⁴ Distress and pressure terrify him; they overwhelm him, like a king poised for attack.

²¹ “Yet there is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

⁴² “If you had only known today what could have brought you peace! But now it is hidden from your sight,

¹⁷ They have not learned the path to peace.