Isaiah 49

The Servant of the Lord

1Listen to me, you islands;

hear this, you distant nations:

Before I was born the Lord called me;

from my birth he has made mention of my name.

2He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me into a polished arrow

and concealed me in his quiver.

3He said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

4But I said, “I have labored to no purpose;

I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,

and my reward is with my God.”

5And now the Lord says—

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord

and my God has been my strength—

6he says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

7This is what the Lord says—

the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—

to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,

to the servant of rulers:

“Kings will see you and rise up,

princes will see and bow down,

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Restoration of Israel

8This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,

and in the day of salvation I will help you;

I will keep you and will make you

to be a covenant for the people,

to restore the land

and to reassign its desolate inheritances,

9to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’

and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads

and find pasture on every barren hill.

10They will neither hunger nor thirst,

nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.

He who has compassion on them will guide them

and lead them beside springs of water.

11I will turn all my mountains into roads,

and my highways will be raised up.

12See, they will come from afar—

some from the north, some from the west,

some from the region of Aswan.^a”

13Shout for joy, O heavens;

rejoice, O earth;

burst into song, O mountains!

For the Lord comforts his people

and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

14But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,

the Lord has forgotten me.”

15“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

Though she may forget,

I will not forget you!

16See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are ever before me.

17Your sons hasten back,

and those who laid you waste depart from you.

18Lift up your eyes and look around;

all your sons gather and come to you.

As surely as I live,” declares the Lord,

“you will wear them all as ornaments;

you will put them on, like a bride.

19“Though you were ruined and made desolate

and your land laid waste,

now you will be too small for your people,

and those who devoured you will be far away.

20The children born during your bereavement

will yet say in your hearing,

‘This place is too small for us;

give us more space to live in.’

21Then you will say in your heart,

‘Who bore me these?

I was bereaved and barren;

I was exiled and rejected.

Who brought these up?

I was left all alone,

but these—where have they come from?’”

22This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I will beckon to the Gentiles,

I will lift up my banner to the peoples;

they will bring your sons in their arms

and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

23Kings will be your foster fathers,

and their queens your nursing mothers.

They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;

they will lick the dust at your feet.

Then you will know that I am the Lord;

those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

24Can plunder be taken from warriors,

or captives rescued from the fierce^b?

25But this is what the Lord says:

“Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,

and plunder retrieved from the fierce;

I will contend with those who contend with you,

and your children I will save.

26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;

they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.

Then all mankind will know

that I, the Lord, am your Savior,

your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Isaiah 7

3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[b] to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘It will not take place,     it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith,     you will not stand at all.’”

Romans 11

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Isaiah 52

7 How beautiful on the mountains     are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,     who bring good tidings,     who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,     “Your God reigns!” 8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;     together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion,     they will see it with their own eyes. 9 Burst into songs of joy together,     you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people,     he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm     in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see     the salvation of our God. 11 Depart, depart, go out from there!     Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure,     you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house. 12 But you will not leave in haste     or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you,     the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Romans 11

5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Mark 11:24

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Jeremiah 10

No one is like you, Lord;     you are great,     and your name is mighty in power. 7 Who should not fear you,     King of the nations?     This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations     and in all their kingdoms,     there is no one like you. 8 They are all senseless and foolish;     they are taught by worthless wooden idols. 9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish     and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made     is then dressed in blue and purple—     all made by skilled workers. 10 But the Lord is the true God;     he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles;     the nations cannot endure his wrath.

Mark 3

28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

Romans 8

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;     we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 7

“‘It will not take place,     it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith,     you will not stand at all.’”

Romans 4

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead —since he was about a hundred years old —and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Isaiah 6

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. ”

Isaiah 1

Wash and make yourselves clean.     Take your evil deeds out of my sight;     stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice.     Defend the oppressed.[a] Take up the cause of the fatherless;     plead the case of the widow. 18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”     says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet,     they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,     they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient,     you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel,     you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Jeremiah 10

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;     it is not for them to direct their steps. 24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—     not in your anger,     or you will reduce me to nothing. 25 Pour out your wrath on the nations     that do not acknowledge you,     on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob;     they have devoured him completely     and destroyed his homeland.

Malachi 1

1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.[a] Israel Doubts God’s Love 2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals. ” 4 Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. 5 You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’

Jeremiah 17

5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man,     who draws strength from mere flesh     and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;     they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,     in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,     whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water     that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;     its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought     and never fails to bear fruit.” 9 The heart is deceitful above all things     and beyond cure.     Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart     and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct,     according to what their deeds deserve.”

Luke 21

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Psalm 81

I heard an unknown voice say: 6 “I removed the burden from their shoulders;     their hands were set free from the basket. 7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,     I answered you out of a thundercloud;     I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c] 8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—     if you would only listen to me, Israel! 9 You shall have no foreign god among you;     you shall not worship any god other than me. 10 I am the Lord your God,     who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. 11 “But my people would not listen to me;     Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts     to follow their own devices. 13 “If my people would only listen to me,     if Israel would only follow my ways, 14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies     and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,     and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;     with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Hebrews 11

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Isaiah 48

20 Leave Babylon,     flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy     and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth;     say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob.” 21 They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts;     he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock     and water gushed out.

James 5

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Isaiah 43

But now, this is what the Lord says—     he who created you, Jacob,     he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;     I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters,     I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,     they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,     you will not be burned;     the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God,     the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom,     Cush[a] and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,     and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you,     nations in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 7

“‘It will not take place,     it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith,     you will not stand at all.’”

James 1

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Isaiah 44

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,     Israel, whom I have chosen. 2 This is what the Lord says—     he who made you, who formed you in the womb,     and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,     Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,     and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,     and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,     like poplar trees by flowing streams. 5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;     others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’     and will take the name Israel.

Isaiah 7

“‘It will not take place,     it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith,     you will not stand at all.’”

Isaiah 49

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,     and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you     to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land     and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’     and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads     and find pasture on every barren hill. 10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,     nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them     and lead them beside springs of water. 11 I will turn all my mountains into roads,     and my highways will be raised up. 12 See, they will come from afar —     some from the north, some from the west,     some from the region of Aswan.[b]” 13 Shout for joy, you heavens;     rejoice, you earth;     burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people     and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Isaiah 6

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. ”

1 John 1

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Isaiah 7

“‘It will not take place,     it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith,     you will not stand at all.’”

Psalm 91

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”     and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you,     no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you     to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands,     so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;     you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;     I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;     I will be with him in trouble,     I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him     and show him my salvation. ”

Psalm 89

28 I will maintain my love to him forever,     and my covenant with him will never fail.

Isaiah 8

12 “Do not call conspiracy     everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear,     and do not dread it. 13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,     he is the one you are to fear,     he is the one you are to dread. 14 He will be a holy place;     for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble     and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be     a trap and a snare. 15 Many of them will stumble;     they will fall and be broken,     they will be snared and captured.”

Psalm 78

When the Lord heard them, he was furious;     his fire broke out against Jacob,     and his wrath rose against Israel, 22 for they did not believe in God     or trust in his deliverance. 23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above     and opened the doors of the heavens;