Monthly Archives: August 2017

Lament for Babylon 1 “Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground [in abject humiliation]; there is no thronefor you, O daughter of theChaldeans, For you will no longer be called tender and delicate. 2 “Take millstones [as a female slave does] and grind meal; Remove your […]

Israel’s Obstinacy 1 “Hear this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel And who come from theseed of Judah, You who swear [allegiance] by the name of the Lord And invoke the God of Israel, Butnot in truth (sincerity) nor in righteousness [with moral and spiritual integrity]. 2 “For […]

Salvation Reaches to the End of the Earth 1 Listen toMe, O islandsandcoastlands, And pay attention, you peoples from far away. The Lordhas called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He has named Me. 2 He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He […]

God Helps His Servant 1 The Lorddeclares this; “Where is the certificate of divorce By which I have sent your mother away, [O Israel]? Or to which one of My creditors did I sell you [as slaves]? In fact, You were sold for your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing], And for your transgressions […]

Israel Exhorted 1 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness (right standing with God), Who seekandinquire of the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut And to the excavation of the quarry from which you were dug. 2 “Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in […]

Cheer for Downtrodden Zion 1 Awake, awake, Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; For the uncircumcised and the unclean Will no longer come into you. 2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise, O captive Jerusalem; Rid yourself of the chains around your neck, O captive […]

The Suffering Servant 1 Who has believed [confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to] our message [of salvation]? And to whom [if not us] has the armandinfinite power of the Lordbeen revealed? 2 For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of […]

The Fertility of Zion 1 “Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth; Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]! For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate onewill bemore numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge […]

The Free Offer of Mercy 1 “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God]. 2 “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And […]

Rewards for Obedience to God 1 This is what the Lordsays, “Maintain justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is soon to come, And My righteousnessandjusticeis soonto be revealed. 2 “Blessed (happy, fortunate) is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it, Who keeps the Sabbath without profaning […]