The Hebrew Prophets

"Come close to me, and listen to this: since the beginning I have not spoken in secret, since the time things began to be, I have been there; and now Adonai ELOHIM has sent me and his Spirit."

Thus says ADONAI, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Isra'el: "I am ADONAI, your God, who teaches you for your own good, who guides you on the path you should take.

If only you would heed my mitzvot! Then your peace would flow on like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would be numerous as the sand, your offspring countless as its grains. Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from my presence."

Get out of Bavel! Flee the Kasdim! With shouts of joy announce it, proclaim it! Send the news out to the ends of the earth! Say, "ADONAI has redeemed his servant Ya'akov."

They weren't thirsty when he led them through the deserts, he made water flow from the rock for them - he split the rock, and out gushed the water.

But there is no peace, says ADONAI, for the wicked.

Coastlands, listen to me; listen, you peoples far away: ADONAI called me from the womb; before I was born, he had spoken my name.

He has made my mouth like a sharp sword while hiding me in the shadow of his hand; he has made me like a sharpened arrow while concealing me in his quiver.

He said to me, "You are my servant, Isra'el, through whom I will show my glory."

But I said, "I have toiled in vain, spent my strength for nothing, futility." Yet my cause is with ADONAI, my reward is with my God.

So now ADONAI says - he formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Ya'akov back to him, to have Isra'el gathered to him, so that I will be honored in the sight of ADONAI, my God having become my strength

he has said, "It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya'akov and restore the offspring of Isra'el. I will also make you a light to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth."

Here is what ADONAI, the Redeemer of Isra'el, his Holy One, says to the one despised, whom the nations detest, to the servant of tyrants: "When kings see you, they will stand up; princes too will prostrate themselves, because of ADONAI, who is faithful, the Holy One of Isra'el, who has chosen you."

Here is what ADONAI says: "At the time when I choose, I will answer you; on the day of salvation, I will help you. I have preserved you, and I have appointed you to be the covenant for a people, to restore the land and distribute again its ruined inheritances to their owners,

to say to the prisoners, 'Come out!' to those in darkness, 'Show yourselves!' They will feed along the paths, and all the high hills will be their pastures.

They will be neither hungry nor thirsty; neither scorching wind nor sun will strike them; for he who has mercy on them will lead them and guide them to springs of water.

I will turn all my mountains into a road, my highways will be raised up.

There they come, some from far away, some from the north, some from the west, and some from the land of Sinim."

Sing, heaven! Rejoice, earth! Break out in song, you mountains! For ADONAI is comforting his people, having mercy on his own who have suffered.

"But Tziyon says, 'ADONAI has abandoned me, Adonai has forgotten me.'

Can a woman forget her child at the breast, not show pity on the child from her womb? Even if these were to forget, I would not forget you.

I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are always before me."

Your children are coming quickly, your destroyers and plunderers are leaving and going.

Raise your eyes, and look around: they are all gathering and coming to you. ADONAI swears: "As surely as I am alive, you will wear them all like jewels, adorn yourself with them like a bride."