Study Desk

This is what the LORD says: "For three offenses of ^(C1)Israel, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, Because they ^(C2)sell the righteous for ^(F1)money, And the needy for a pair of sandals.

-"These who ^(F1)trample the head of the ^(C1)helpless to the dust of the earth Also ^(C2)divert the way of the humble; And a ^(C3)man and his father ^(F2)resort to the same ^(F3)girl So as to profane My holy name.

-"And on garments ^(C1)seized as pledges they stretch out beside ^(C2)every altar, And in the house of their God they ^(C3)drink the wine of those who have been fined.

"Yet it was I who destroyed the ^(C1)Amorite before them, ^(F1)Though his ^(C2)height was like the height of cedars And he was as strong as the oaks; I also destroyed his ^(C3)fruit above and his roots below.

-"And it was I who ^(C1)brought you up from the land of Egypt, And led you in the wilderness for ^(C2)forty years So that you might take possession of the land of the ^(C3)Amorite.

-"Then I ^(C1)raised up some of your sons to be prophets, And some of your young men to be ^(C2)Nazirites. Is this not so, you sons of Israel?" declares the LORD.

"But you made the Nazirites drink wine, And you commanded the prophets, saying, 'You ^(C1)shall not prophesy!'