Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks
Through His Servants the Prophets

Volume II: Restoration & Redemption

Lesson 14 Trito-Isaiah & the Return
the Book of Isaiah 56:1–7
the Book of Isaiah 58:4–9
the Book of Isaiah 58:13–14
the Book of Isaiah 59:19–21
the Book of Isaiah 60:1–5
the Book of Isaiah 60:19
the Book of Isaiah 61:1–3
the Book of Isaiah 61:10–11
the Book of Isaiah 62:1–7
the Book of Isaiah 64:1–2
the Book of Isaiah 65:17–25
the Book of Isaiah 66:1–2
the Book of Isaiah 66:22

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for Thus Says the LORD—Volume II
cross references in Thus Says the LORD—Volume II
next lesson: Joel & the Day of the LORD

This online supplemental material coordinates with the lesson on pages 97–103 of Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption.

---

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
—the Book of Isaiah 55:10–11 (RSVCE)**

---

welcome to Volume II of our in-depth study of the biblical prophets
We invite you to check out the sample first lesson and video from Volume II of this Turning to God’s Word two-part Catholic Bible study. Our online pages link to the free related lesson videos, a glossary, and cross references in the biblical text, and include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption contains 23 lessons and has been granted an imprimatur. It may be purchased from our website shop. The companion 28-lesson Volume I: A Kingdom Divided also is available for purchase. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

---

open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

let’s review—the Book of Jonah 1:1—4:11
Lesson 13 Jonah: An Old Testament Parable looks at one of the better-known prophetic books of the Old Testament, but scholars find it difficult to determine when it was written. Although set in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II in the 8th-century B.C., most scholars believe that the Book of Jonah was written much later, during the 5th or possibly early 4th century B.C. In the entire work, Jonah issues only one prophetic statement, and it’s addressed to the Assyrians—dreaded enemies of the descendants of Jacob—urging them to repent. The surprising thing about this work is that the Assyrians take Jonah’s warning to heart to such an extent that the LORD reverses his plan to destroy them. God’s primary message to the descendants of Jacob appears as a type of parable, teaching them that the LORD is willing to forgive anyone who’s seriously repentant. The way in which Christians interpret the Book of Jonah looks at the prophet Jonah as a type of Jesus and sheds light on how salvation occurs through Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection.

how does Trito- (Third) Isaiah differ from Proto- (First) and Deutero- (Second) Isaiah? 
Previous lessons (two in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided—Lesson 20 Isaiah Foresees Immanuel’s Birth and Lesson 23 Hezekiah Consults Isaiah—and two in Volume II: Restoration & Redemption—Lesson 7 Deutero-Isaiah Proclaims the End of the Exile and Lesson 8 God’s Suffering Servant) have looked at the earlier chapters in the Book of Isaiah. Most scholars think that the fifty-sixth through sixty-sixth chapters, a section often referred to as Trito- (Third) Isaiah, was written after the former exiles returned from Babylon and had rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. There are mixed ideas about the author of this section of the Book of Isaiah, with some scholars suggesting Trito- (Third) Isaiah may have been written by more than one person; a few suggest Deutero- (Second) Isaiah had a hand in writing it. The main themes in Trito- (Third) Isaiah reflect the difficulty and hope faced by God’s people, who’ve begun to realize that the salvation they’ve been awaiting has been delayed. The prophet promises that the glory of the LORD will come to them in the future, and there’s a strong post-exilic emphasis on following the law. Volume I: A Kingdom Divided looks at the biblical prophets active prior to the Babylonian Exile.

map notes—the home of God the king
After the captives’ return from Babylon beginning in 538 B.C., the prophets Haggai and Zechariah urged the people to make rebuilding the Temple a priority. Trito- (Third) Isaiah insists that the LORD isn’t as interested in having a house in Jerusalem as in knowing that the people respect covenant law, but the prophet adds a twist—God’s promise of an eternal kingdom now includes foreigners and eunuchs. The Temple is labeled “a house of prayer for all peoples.” Trito- (Third) Isaiah insists that righteousness eventually will bring about the pilgrimage of all nations to Jerusalem to honor the LORD as king. The Book of Isaiah 66:1–2, however, makes it clear that God rules from heaven. Click on the map (right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 101 of Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption. 

two major moral points in Trito- (Third) Isaiah (56:15)
In the video overview for Lesson 14, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps identifies two major moral points in the final section in the Book of Isaiah. These two simple things represent the basics of what needs to be done by anyone serious about following God’s will. This was true in the time of Trito- (Third) Isaiah, and it’s true in our own time as well. These two moral points are in contrast to the Ten Commandments, which are a list of things people shouldn’t do. The prophet was writing during a time when the religion of the former captives was shifting to Judaism, a discipline that emphasizes following God’s law. The prophet sees through all of those many laws to the two things that will make God happy and bring salvation. Trito- (Third) Isaiah moves the focus from the scrupulosity connected with a long list of things not to do, instead looking at two relatively simple things that the people can be doing.

?  What are these positive actions named by the prophet Trito- (Third) Isaiah?
?  What are the five positive actions that the Church identifies as necessary for Catholics? (Hint: The Church refers to these as precepts, and they can be found beginning with paragraph 2041 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. When considering these essential Catholic practices, bear in mind that they represent minimum requirements. Following them is intended to bring about an increase in other devout spiritual practices.)

oops—we’re sorry about the racket
We apologize for background noise you can hear on part of the video overview for this lesson. The sounds are from construction going on in Matthew’s neighborhood.

The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the ranges for the sets of questions in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption. You can follow along as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 14, “Trito-Isaiah & the Return,” on pages 97–103 in the study book.

read the Catechism—about observing the sabbath
The first major moral point identified in Trito- (Third) Isaiah is observation of the sabbath. The prophet begins discussing this idea in the Book of Isaiah 56:1–2.

?  Read the book of Genesis 2:1–3 and the book of Exodus 20:8-11. The book of Genesis introduces observation of the sabbath as the first and oldest religious practice identified in Scripture, and the book of Exodus includes remembering the sabbath as the third commandment. What is there aboutobservation of the sabbath that might have led Trito- (Third) Isaiah to view it as a foundational and essential first step in building a relationship with God? You can learn Church teaching regarding the sabbath—which Jews observe on Saturdays while Christians worship on Sundays to commemorate the day of Jesus’ Resurrection—in the section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church devoted to the third commandment, paragraphs 2168 through 2195.
?  Many Jewish religious laws didn’t make it into Christianity, but observing the sabbath did. Attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation is a liturgical requirement of the Church. What’s the purpose of liturgy?
?  How is it that regular observance of the sabbath provides the necessary foundation for relationship between humanity and divinity? If necessary, refer to paragraphs 1071 and 1072 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1071    As the work of Christ liturgy is also an action of his Church. It makes the Church present and manifests her as the visible sign of the communion in Christ between God and men. It engages the faithful in the new life of the community and involves the “conscious, active, and fruitful participation” of everyone.

1072    “The sacred liturgy does not exhaust the entire activity of the Church”: it must be preceded by evangelization, faith, and conversion. It can then produce its fruits in the lives of the faithful: new life in the Spirit, involvement in the mission of the Church, and service to her unity.

?  Consider whether it’s as important for Christians to observe a sabbath day of rest and worship as it was for the descendants of Jacob to whom Trito- (Third) Isaiah was addressing his prophetic message.
?  In addition to attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, what else can be done regularly to carve out time for God each week?

WHAT’S YOUR UNDERSTANDING about fasting?
The second major moral point identified in Trito- (Third) Isaiah concerns fasting. It can be found in the Book of Isaiah 58:4–7.Although Catholics are used to fasting during Lent, there are many different valid viewpoints about the purpose of fasting. Consider the purpose of fasting as a religious practice.

?  According to the prophet Trito- (Third) Isaiah, what objections does the LORD have about the way in which the descendants of Jacob apparently have been fasting?
?  What kind of fasting is the LORD interested in seeing and why?
?  How might the kind of fasting the LORD wishes to see be considered a foundational aspect of the religious life? If necessary, review the video overview for this lesson.
?  What are some ideas about fasting that are common in present-day secular society but that might be in conflict with fasting as a religious practice?
?  How might others have benefited from fasts undertaken by Christians during Lent and at other times in the liturgical year?
?  What are some changes Christians could consider making in the way that we fast?
?  What things besides food might be suitable for religious fasting and why?

ex libris—obedience is a necessary partner to ritualistic practices
The author of God’s Word to Israel, Joseph Jensen, O.S.B., points out that although an emphasis on the law is reflected in Trito- (Third) Isaiah, religious practices such as observing the sabbath and fasting are of little value unless the pursuit of righteousness by these means is accompanied by obedience to the deeper demands of justice and charity. Read excerpts and learn more about God’s Word to Israel and other works related to Bible study at ex libris—main bookshelf.

ex libris—differing post-exilic ideas about worship
In Introduction to the Prophets: Their Stories, Sayings, and Scrolls, the author, Thomas L. Leclerc, M.S. (Missionaries of La Salette), a priest and professor
at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts, suggests that Trito- (Third) Isaiah holds a different viewpoint about worship than other post-exilic prophets, most of whom focus on restoring religious practices. Trito- (Third) Isaiah asserts that when worship fails to include acts of justice it invalidates cultic religious practices. Read excerpts and learn more about Introduction to the Prophets: Their Stories, Sayings, and Scrolls and other works related to Bible study at ex libris—main bookshelf.

righteousness—you could look it up in our archives
In Revised Standard Version translations of  Book of Isaiah 58:8, God promises his people that if they care for those in need, righteousness will go ahead of those who are obeying the LORD’s will. The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) translates the same verse slightly differently, substituting “vindication” for “righteousness.” In Lost in Translation, an online column that can help readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps looks at the linguistic roots behind the Hebrew word צֶדֶק (tsedeq), which can be translated as “vindication” but primarily means “justice” or “righteousness,” two words that in the Bible mean the same thing. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

the LORD’s promise to David now is made to all of God’s people
The section in the Book of Isaiah referred to as Trito- (Third) Isaiah is an exhortation to the descendants of Jacob to keep the covenant. God’s eternal promise to David, recorded in the seventh chapter of the Second Book of Samuel now is extended to the people of Israel at large. This prophetic book ends by enjoining righteousness on the people to bring about the final stages of God’s plan. In the Book of Isaiah 65:17, the prophet announces that when this divine plan comes to pass, it will result in “new heavens and a new earth,” an idea that forms the basis of the final work included in the New Testament, the book of Revelation. You can learn more by reading Lesson 14 God’s Promise to David in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The United Kingdom: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Learn more about “new heavens and a new earth” in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

God’s people shall be called by a new name
In the Book of Isaiah 62:2, the prophet promises that LORD will give his people a new name. It’s easy to read over this verse. Most of us are familiar with times in the Bible when God renames someone, and those usually are accompanied by some sort of conversion experience on the part of the person being renamed. These biblical name changes also usually indicate a more intimate union with God.

how is this relevant?
Perhaps the most notable name change in the Old Testament, and certainly one with lasting impact, is God renaming Jacob Israel, described in the thirty-second chapter in the book of Genesis. The promise that the descendants of Jacob, who’ve become known as the people of Israel, are going to be renamed represents a significant moment in salvation history. Each lesson in the study book Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption contains commentaries designed to make it easier to reflect on ways that God’s Word applies to present-day Christians. Lesson 19 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis addresses God’s renaming of the patriarch Jacob, who also becomes known as Israel.

?  Cite instances of biblical name changes based on your previous knowledge of the Bible.
?  Read the book of Genesis 32:22–30, which describes the events surrounding God renaming Jacob Israel. What does the name Jacob mean, and what does the name Israel mean? If necessary, refer to our online online glossary, which lists the meaning of proper nouns included in the biblical text for this Catholic Bible study.
?  In the Bible, a name represents a person’s identity. Although the LORD only renamed Jacob, what might be deduced about Jacob’s descendants after they start to be known as the people of Israel or as Israelites?
?  The only instance in the Old Testament in which God changes or promises to change the name of an entire people is described in the Book of Isaiah 62:2. How may this name change have taken place? (Hint: What are God’s people called in the present day?)
?  What does this new name mean?
?  How does this new name reflect a change in identity for God’s people?
?  Consider whether this name for God’s people reflects a more intimate relationship between God and his people.

Q&A—a question about what appears to be a discrepancy in prophecy
One of the study groups participating in this study had difficulty reconciling the difference between the message of Trito- (Third) Isaiah in this lesson and the actions described in the Book of Ezra that involved the descendants of Jacob sending away their foreign wives and children.

Q:  In the Book of Isaiah 56:1–7, the prophet delivers God’s message to “keep justice and do righteousness” specifically toward the foreigner and eunuch who wish to sincerely worship and follow the Lord. Our group could not reconcile this message with the Book of Ezra 9:2 in which the Israelites, after learning it was unlawful to have taken foreign wives for themselves and their sons, sent members of their families away as a sign of obedience.

A:  It’s understandable how the message in Trito- (Third) Isaiah might be confusing after studying about the descendants of Jacob voluntarily sending away their foreign wives when they learned that marrying outside of their faith was displeasing to God. Although this can appear to be a contradiction in Old Testament prophecy, the real problem centers on the difference between spouses who want to remain faithful to foreign gods and foreigners and eunuchs who sincerely wish to worship the LORD. In the video that accompanies Lesson 12 Ezra Combines Legal and Religious Authority, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps addressed at the inherent difficulties of choosing to marry someone who doesn’t share our religion. A foreigner who wants to abandon false gods to worship the LORD is a horse of a very different color.

It appears that the author of the Book of Ezra assumes the foreign wives in his world hadn’t given up the worship of local deities in order to accept Hebrew worship practices, and it also appears that Trito- (Third) Isaiah assumes that the foreigners in the Book of Isaiah have. Throughout the Old Testament—most obvious is the case of Solomon but the same thing also appears numerous other places—there’s evidence of God’s people taking foreign wives who then turn their husbands away from the worship of God. There’s also some evidence—not nearly as much—of God’s people taking foreign wives who are completely on board with Hebrew worship practice. Ruth is perhaps the best-known example of this. You can read about her in the Old Testament Book of Ruth.

Scripture makes a strong case that the vast majority of the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews who marry outside of their faith aren’t strong enough in their own religious practice to withstand the pressure of being in a close relationship with someone who doesn’t share their beliefs. What usually happens in those mixed marriages is that the foreign wives lead their husbands to false worship. All of us can cite present-day examples in which mixed marriages lead to much hurt. That doesn’t mean such marriages shouldn’t be undertaken, but marrying outside of the faith does put an incredible amount of pressure on both spouses.

It also should be noted that these Old Testament texts take what most present-day Christians would consider a sexist attitude when they object only to foreign wives and make no mention of foreign husbands. While the Old Testament was composed by men, the more likely reason for the emphasis on foreign wives is that if a Hebrew woman married a man who didn’t share her faith, she would have been expected to accept her husband’s religion.

Q&A—how can a prophet identify with both the bridegroom & the bride?
Question 7 in this lesson asks participants to read the Book of Isaiah 61:10-11, to consider Trito- (Third) Isaiah’s identification with both bridegroom and bride.

Q:  My answer for Question 7 in this lesson was that the prophet being God’s messenger sets him apart from other humans (as the bridegroom as Christ), but he’s still human (as the bride as the Church). But also, salvation and righteousness are the assets (adornments) that are brought to this marriage of the divine with humanity. But truly, members of our study group weren’t satisfied with our comments on this answer.

what Matthew says:  You seem to be headed in a good direction. That the prophet identifies with both the bridegroom and the bride indicates his unique relationship with the divine as well as demonstrating an understanding of the limitations of his own humanity. Some spiritual writers claim that we’re all feminine before God because we’re members of the Church, which is the bride of Christ. There clearly is some danger in getting too hung up and too literal about what’s masculine and feminine in our relationship with God, but the Old Testament is rife with nuptial imagery used to describe the nature of how humanity and divinity relate. Lesson 19 Hosea’s Vision of God’s Covenant in the first volume of this Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study, Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided,  describes the prophet going so far as to intentionally take an unfaithful wife in order to model the way in which God and humanity relate. Throughout Scripture, including in the New Testament, prophets are in a special position to understand God’s role as a divine bridegroom while also being aware of humanity’s unworthiness to enter into union with God. We’ll see this more clearly later when we get to Lesson 20 The Voice in the Wilderness in Volume II: Restoration & Redemption, which also focuses on the New Testament context for a passage from the Book of Isaiah 61. It also may help to remember that in at least a couple of places in the Gospel According to John, Jesus is described as a bridegroom. The book of Revelation suggests that the Church is the bride of Christ. And Catholics also identify the Church as the body of Christ. Biblical images are complicated, which is something we need to keep in mind when studying Scripture. You can learn more in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth and The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

the Book of Isaiah 58:6–7—paragraph 2447
the Book of Isaiah 61:1—paragraphs 436, 695, 716, 1286
the Book of Isaiah 61:1–2—paragraph 714
the Book of Isaiah 62:1–12—paragraph 1611
the Book of Isaiah 62:4–5—paragraph 219

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption.

to learn more, read more Scripture
It can help to check out the cross references listed in Scripture, but looking them up is time-consuming. To make that part easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page accompanying this study, and it includes links to each of the cross references in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following links are to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open one of the links and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV readings provide an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the Book of Isaiah 56:1–7 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 58:4–9 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 58:13–14 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 59:19–21 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 60:1–5 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 60:19 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 61:1–3 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 61:10–11 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 62:1–7 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 64:1–2 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 65:17–25 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 66:1–2 (NIV)
the Book of Isaiah 66:22 (NIV)

close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps, or you can use the following  prayer based on this lesson’s biblical texts.

Lord, you cast out the darkness
and shine the light of your glory upon us.
Shower us with the gifts of your Spirit
and with the brightness of your presence
as we await the coming of new heavens and a new earth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son,
the light of the world, who radiates your presence
and on whom your Spirit rests. Amen.

Lesson 15 Joel & the Day of the LORD—the Book of Joel 1:1–9, the Book of Joel 1:13, the Book of Joel 1:15, the Book of Joel 2:1–6, the Book of Joel 2:10–19, the Book of Joel 2:26–32, and the Book of Joel 3:1–21
Lesson 13 Jonah: An Old Testament Parable—the Book of Jonah 1:1—4:11

you also may like Volume I of our prophets study
Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided examines the prophets in their historical context based on the First and Second Books of the Kings and writings of biblical prophets before the Babylonian Exile in 586 B.C. It builds on The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, an in-depth look at the kingdoms ruled by Saul, David, and Solomon—with special emphasis on David as a type of Jesus. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

---

start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption. You can find information on this website about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer your questions and address any of your concerns. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

---

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages of Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. A handful of more significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSVCE and RSV2CE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.

**The Book of Isaiah 55:10-11 (RSV2CE) reads: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”