Future Glory for Jerusalem
54“Sing, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the Lord.
2“Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
3For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities.
4“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
and the sorrows of widowhood.
5For your Creator will be your husband;
the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
6For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
says your God.
7“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
8In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
9“Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.
10For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
11“O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
12I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
your gates of shining gems,
and your walls of precious stones.
13I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
14You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.
15If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.
16“I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
17But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation
55“Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!
2Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
3“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
5You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
11It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
Blessings for All Nations
56This is what the Lord says:
“Be just and fair to all.
Do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
and to display my righteousness among you.
2Blessed are all those
who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
and keep themselves from doing wrong.
3“Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’
And don’t let the eunuchs say,
‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
4For this is what the Lord says:
I will bless those eunuchs
who keep my Sabbath days holy
and who choose to do what pleases me
and commit their lives to me.
5I will give them—within the walls of my house—
a memorial and a name
far greater than sons and daughters could give.
For the name I give them is an everlasting one.
It will never disappear!
6“I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who hold fast to my covenant.
7I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8For the Sovereign Lord,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.”
Sinful Leaders Condemned
9Come, wild animals of the field!
Come, wild animals of the forest!
Come and devour my people!
10For the leaders of my people—
the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds—
are blind and ignorant.
They are like silent watchdogs
that give no warning when danger comes.
They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
11Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
all following their own path
and intent on personal gain.
12“Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
and have an even bigger party!”
57Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
2For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.
Idolatrous Worship Condemned
3“But you—come here, you witches’ children,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4Whom do you mock,
making faces and sticking out your tongues?
You children of sinners and liars!
5You worship your idols with great passion
beneath the oaks and under every green tree.
You sacrifice your children down in the valleys,
among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.
6Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.
You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.
They, not I, are your inheritance.
Do you think all this makes me happy?
7You have committed adultery on every high mountain.
There you have worshiped idols
and have been unfaithful to me.
8You have put pagan symbols
on your doorposts and behind your doors.
You have left me
and climbed into bed with these detestable gods.
You have committed yourselves to them.
You love to look at their naked bodies.
9You have gone to Molech[a]
with olive oil and many perfumes,
sending your agents far and wide,
even to the world of the dead.[b]
10You grew weary in your search,
but you never gave up.
Desire gave you renewed strength,
and you did not grow weary.
11“Are you afraid of these idols?
Do they terrify you?
Is that why you have lied to me
and forgotten me and my words?
Is it because of my long silence
that you no longer fear me?
12Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.
None of them will help you.
13Let’s see if your idols can save you
when you cry to them for help.
Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!
If you just breathe on them, they fall over!
But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”
God Forgives the Repentant
14God says, “Rebuild the road!
Clear away the rocks and stones
so my people can return from captivity.”
15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
16For I will not fight against you forever;
I will not always be angry.
If I were, all people would pass away—
all the souls I have made.
17I was angry,
so I punished these greedy people.
I withdrew from them,
but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
18I have seen what they do,
but I will heal them anyway!
I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn,
19bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”
says the Lord, who heals them.
20“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
which is never still
but continually churns up mud and dirt.
21There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God.
True and False Worship
58“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel[c] of their sins!
2Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
3‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
4What good is fasting
when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
will never get you anywhere with me.
5You humble yourselves
by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?
6“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.
13“Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Footnotes
- 57:9a Or to the king.
- 57:9b Hebrew to Sheol.
- 58:1 Hebrew Jacob. See note on 14:1.
FAQs
How do I start reading the Bible from the beginning? ›
Start slow
Start by reading small portions of the Bible at first: a long passage or one chapter a day. Read for about 10-15 minutes. Don't overwhelm yourself by reading an entire book in one sitting (at least not just yet). Savor each word, each phrase.
There's a fine line between achieving word-for-word accuracy and authentic thought-for-thought contemporary meaning. The New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible gives you a modern English translation that is accurate in meanings while keeping to the form and structure of the original scriptures.
What is the easiest Bible reading plan? ›The Gospel in 90 days is a simple reading plan and a great place for a beginner to start reading the Bible. The Gospel, meaning Good News, is the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
What is the SOAP method of Bible study? ›stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It is a way of getting more out of your time in God's Word. The S.O.A.P method of Bible Study (for individuals or small groups) does not require a theology degree or special leadership skills.
What is the prayer before reading the Bible? ›Father, anoint me with your Holy Spirit, so that as I read your eternal word, your word may penetrate my whole being and transform me. Grant me the blessing to be a faithful disciple in believing the Word of God and that I may be a light shining upon all who are in darkness. Amen.
What religion uses NLT Bible? ›| New Living Translation | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Tyndale House Foundation |
| Copyright | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical |
| Webpage | www.tyndale.com/nlt/ |
Easy Reading Bible – New Living Translation (NLT)
The NTL boasts a readable translation that uses verbiage and language that is commonly used in modern day. Many have found this to be one of the easiest to read translations.
The text of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the work in which ...
Which book in the Bible should I read first as a beginner? ›Consider Reading Genesis First
Naturally, reading the beginning of any book would help you understand the rest. However, Genesis proves to be a more important beginning to a story than any other beginning you have ever read.
Set aside 15 minutes each day to absorb the Scripture throughout the year. The plan allots for one catch up day each month so you can stay on task. Read through four passages each day. You will also read through the Gospel accounts three times for a more thorough understanding of the life of Christ.
What is the simplest Bible study method? ›
SOAP is a simple method for reading and applying God's word to our lives. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer and involves four simple steps: Scripture – Read a short Bible passage out loud and/or write it out. Observation – What do you notice about the verses?
What is a good Bible plan? ›Read through the Bible in the order the events occurred chronologically. Four daily readings beginning in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew and Acts. Two daily readings, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. Complete an entire book in each testament before moving on.
How do I catch up on the Bible reading plan? ›READ A LITTLE EXTRA EACH DAY UNTIL YOU CATCH UP
If you missed a few days, this is a good option. Simply add a chapter, or even a few verses to your reading each day until you catch up to the plan. If you are dead set on finishing your plan in the time it specifies, this will help you get there.
Bible Journey is a customizable Bible reading plan creator: define a range of days, where you will start and end your reading and get your own plan! - The Power to invite others to a Bible Reading Challenge!
What are the three methods of Bible study? ›- Book-by-book analysis of the message.
- Verse-by-verse method.
- Study that seeks a biblical solution to a specific life problem, biblical satisfaction for a specific need, or a biblical answer to a specific question.
- Topical study (faith, love, second coming, and others)
We consider a three-step approach to studying the Bible. The three steps are observation, elucidation, and application. Observation answers the question, “What does the text say?” Elucidation answers the question, “What does it mean?” Application answers the question, “What does it mean to me?”
What does the P stand for in pray? ›Once again, the acronym PRAY stands for Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield. Praise is all about giving God thanks for who They are and what They have done.
What to do before reading the Bible? ›Before you open your bible, begin with a simple prayer asking God to take the wheel and direct your time in His word to reap the greatest blessing and for His glory. When you pray simply quiet your mind as much as you can and begin to notice the whispers and small voices you sense.
What is the opening prayer of Bible study? ›A Brief Prayer to Begin a Bible Study
Dear Lord, I pray for your guidance as I lead this Bible study. Help me to listen to everyone, include everyone, and direct the study well. I want each person to grow closer to you through this study. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Adoration/Blessing
Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before God. Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God.
What reading level is the NLT Bible? ›
New Living Translation (NLT): 6th grade. God's Word (GW): 5th grade. The Message (MSG): 5th grade. New Century Version (NCV): 3rd grade.
Can Catholics read the NLT? ›The NLT has been granted the official Imprimatur of the Catholic Church. We have Catholic Bibles in text editions and in the popular Inspire line. The NLT Catholic Reader's Edition is approved by the Catholic Church for reading and study and includes the official Imprimatur.
What Bible do Jehovah Witness use? ›The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a translation of the Bible published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; it is used and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses.
What is the easiest Bible to read and understand for adults? ›The New International Reader's Version (NIrV)
The NIrV is based on a popular version of the Bible called the NIV. It uses easier words than the NIV. It also explains harder words. This makes it a good beginner Bible for adults who find reading hard.
King James Version (55%) New International Version (19%) New Revised Standard Version (7%) New American Bible (6%)
Is the King James Bible the most accurate? ›Published in 1611, the King James Bible spread quickly throughout Europe. Because of the wealth of resources devoted to the project, it was the most faithful and scholarly translation to date—not to mention the most accessible.
What type of translation is the NLT Bible? ›The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, is an authoritative Bible translation, rendered faithfully into today's English from the ancient texts by 90 leading Bible scholars.
Who owns the rights to the NLT Bible? ›Publication of any commentary or other Bible reference work produced for commercial sale that uses the New Living Translation requires written permission for use of the NLT text. TYNDALE, New Living Translation, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Is the Living Bible a paraphrase or a translation? ›The Living Bible (TLB or LB) is a personal paraphrase, not a translation, of the Bible in English by Kenneth N. Taylor and first published in 1971. Taylor used the American Standard Version of 1901 as his base text.
What is the 5 day Bible reading plan? ›This special Bible reading system allows you to read the entire Bible (or just the New Testament) in one year while only reading five times a week. Five readings a week gives room to catch up or take a needed day off, and makes daily Bible reading practical and do-able.
How do I choose a daily reading Bible? ›
- Follow your interests. Description: Just read the Bible, following your interests. ...
- Cover to cover in a year. ...
- A prescribed reading plan. ...
- Two OT chapters, one Psalm/Proverbs chapter, one NT chapter. ...
- Other Suggestions.
The 4+1 plan is designed so that you will read in 4 different places in Scripture each day ( YouVersion will often list the chapters separately; so "John 2-3" would be presented as "John 2" and "John 3 ") + a reading from Psalms.
What is the 5 R's Bible study method? ›We call this easy Bible study method the “5 Rs” because it consists of five steps that all start with the letter "R": Read, Rewrite, Restate, Relate and Respond. Let's take a look at this simple Bible study method in action using Psalm 34:4-5.
What is #1 study Bible? ›The #1 selling study Bible, the Life Application Study Bible is the most complete single-volume Bible every compiled, with more than 10,000 notes, charts, maps, timelines, profiles and more.
What are the 4 types of Bible study? ›The four types include biblical theology, historical theology, systematic (or dogmatic) theology, and practical theology.
What is a chronological Bible reading plan? ›Reading the Bible in chronological order means reading the events of the Bible in the order that they happened in history, rather than the order they are presented in the Bible text.
What is the 4 streams Bible reading plan? ›At Four Streams, we are simply guides fulfilling the great commission and inviting men, women and children to launch into the great adventure that is life in Christ. This plan will go through the NT 4 times per year, the OT once, Psalms twice, and Proverbs 4 times per year.
What are good chapters in the Bible to start? ›- The Gospel of John - This is the best place for new believers, especially, to start reading. ...
- Romans - This is a good place to start if you want a clear understanding of the Gospel. ...
- Psalms - This is a great place to start if you're looking for encouragement.
In our church, we usually say This is the Word of the Lord/ Thanks be to God. In a Communion service, it will be: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew/Mark/Luke/John, followed by Glory to You, O Lord. At the end of the reading, it is This is the Gospel of the Lord, then Praise to You, O Christ.
Is there a free Bible reading app? ›Take God's Word with you wherever you go with the free YouVersion Bible App. Listen to Audio Bibles, create Prayers, study with Friends, watch engaging Videos, explore 2,500+ Bible versions, and much more.
Should I use a Bible reading plan? ›
Bible reading plans can help you grow as a follower of Christ. They guide you through reading the Bible, so that you can see God's plan for this world and why it matters. An intentional Bible reading plan also helps you stay committed.
Is there a Bible app that reads like a book? ›YouVersion Bible is completely free and lets you listen to books, chapters and verses of the Bible. You can listen to daily Reading Plans that you subscribe to in the Bible App and even pray over your prayer list. YouVersion Bible includes 5 professionally narrated Bible versions (ESV, NLT, NIV, KJV, MSG).
What is the proper way to read the Bible? ›The right way to read the Bible is the gospel approach. This means we read every passage as somehow contributing to the single, overarching storyline of Scripture, which culminates in Jesus.
What happens when you read the Bible everyday? ›Reading the Bible on a regular and consistent basis has several benefits. First, the Bible shows us God's character and provides us God's revelation of himself to his people. In each section of the Bible, we see God's holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character.
What are the three ways to read the Bible? ›- As holy scripture.
- As history.
- As literature.
You can start by following a simple historical narrative. Your Bible study can begin with Genesis and then reading in order: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2, Samuel, 1 and 2, Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, followed by Acts.
Is it best to read the Bible in Chronological order? ›If you want to develop a better understanding of the Bible and God's story of salvation, reading the Bible chronologically will help. You'll increase your appreciation for God's patience and love for his people and reinforce a deeper admiration for God's story—and your place in it!
What parts of the Bible should I read first? ›The promises that are fulfilled in the rest of the Bible are first given in Genesis. In fact, just the first 11 chapters of Genesis are quoted from over 100 times in the New Testament! Reading Genesis will lay in your mind the foundation for a biblical worldview, and thus help orient you to life in general.
What is the overview of the Bible for beginners? ›The Overview of the Bible for the Beginner is a compilation of 120 Scriptures taken from the International English Study Bible. It tells the Bible story using Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
What is the Bible study beginning to end? ›Bible: Beginning to End, is an ongoing podcast where we will be reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. As we read through the Bible, I will stop and ask critical thinking questions along the way so you can meditate on God's word and form your own answers as the Holy Spirit leads.
How many days a week should I read my Bible? ›
The more Christians read or listen to the Scriptures at least four times a week, the more bold they will be in sharing their faith and growing in their faith. Their lives will begin to have a profound impact on those immediately around them.
Are you supposed to read the entire Bible? ›If we limit ourselves to certain books, we read the Bible with tunnel vision and do not see what we are reading in light of the whole. This is why it's vital to read the entirety of Scripture—even the books that seem elusive at first and difficult to grasp.
Where should a woman start reading the Bible? ›The New Testament is the best place to start reading the Bible. The first four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are accounts of Jesus' life and ministry and are often referred to as the gospels. Reading the gospels is like reading the journals of four friends who went on a road trip together.