Learn to do good; commit yourselves to seeking justice. Make right for the world’s most vulnerable— the oppressed, the orphaned, the widow.

O house of Jacob—people of the promise—come, come walk with me by the light of the Eternal.

But the people don’t return to God after all His punishment. They don’t change their ways and right their paths To seek the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies.

Then on that day, that root from Jesse’s line will stand as a signal for the peoples of the world Who will come to Him seeking guidance and direction; and glory will be restored to the land where He resides.

(to Jerusalem) Give us your best advice and do what is right. When the day is at its fiercest, hide us in your cool shade. Shield the trammeled and abused. Keep your mouth shut when our enemy comes looking, seeking us out.

The Lord, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, says, Eternal One: I will subject the Egyptians to oppressive forces and heartless leadership of a dictator-king. I will make them turn against each other, Egyptian against Egyptian, a civil war, Right down to the houses within a neighborhood— city against city, district against district. They’ll lose all courage and I’ll frustrate their plans. They’ll seek the advice of long dead ancestors and empty idols, mediums and fortune-tellers. But it is I who determine their fate.

When that day arrives, there will be a road connecting Egypt to Assyria and people of both nations will travel it to worship together, side-by-side.

At night I long for You with all that is in Me. When morning comes, I seek You with all my heart. For when Your justice is done on earth, then everyone in the world will learn righteousness.

But let My vineyard look to Me for protection and nurture; let it seek My peace; let it seek My peace.

For fools utter nonsense, and their minds are preoccupied with evil; they regularly misrepresent the Eternal in what they say and do, Leaving true seekers frustrated and confused, the hungry with empty stomachs and the thirsty with parched mouths.

Meanwhile, back in Judah, Hezekiah became very sick and was about to die. Learning of it, Isaiah, Amoz’s son, went to visit him. Isaiah: Here is what the Eternal One has to say: Eternal One: Get your affairs in order. You are going to die. You are not going to recover from this.

Those who cannot afford such an extravagant offering select a choice hardwood that will not rot, And seek a skilled artisan to fashion an image that will not totter and fall.

But whoever does make an idol is not improved or enriched. On the contrary, their passing fancies contribute nothing of value or purpose. Those who look on at such misplaced attention don’t understand what they’re seeing, and the idol-makers will end up embarrassed at best.

So it was perfectly right for me to raise up Cyrus; I will make his road ahead straight and level, So that he will rebuild My chosen place, My city Jerusalem, and set My exiled people free Without exacting a price or seeking a bribe. So says the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.

So turn your attention and seek the Eternal One while it is still possible; call on Him while He is nearby.

People: Why didn’t You notice how diligently we fasted before You? We humbled ourselves with pious practices and You paid no attention. Eternal One: I have to tell you, on those fasting days, all you were really seeking was your own pleasure; Besides you were busy defrauding people and abusing your workers.

Eternal One: I was ready and willing to help before anyone even asked. I was found by people who did not seek Me; I showed My face and said, “Here I am! I am right here!” to a nation which did not call on Me.