Study Desk

Hear this word, you ^(F1)cows of ^(C1)Bashan who are on the ^(C2)mountain of Samaria, Who ^(C3)exploit the poor, who oppress the needy, ^(F2)And say to their ^(F3)husbands, "Bring now, that we may ^(C4)drink!"

The Lord ^(F1)GOD has ^(C1)sworn by His ^(C2)holiness, "For behold, the days are coming upon you When ^(F2)they will take you away with ^(C3)meat hooks, And the last of you with ^(C4)fish hooks.

-"You will ^(C1)go out through holes in the walls, One in front of the other, And you ^(F1)will be hurled to Harmon," declares the LORD.

"Enter Bethel and do wrong; In Gilgal multiply wrongdoing! ^(C1)Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days.

-"^(F1)Offer a ^(C1)thanksgiving offering also from that which is leavened, And proclaim ^(C2)(F2)voluntary offerings, make them known. For so you ^(C3)love to do, you sons of Israel," Declares the Lord GOD.

"But I gave you also ^(C1)cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have ^(C2)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"Furthermore, I ^(C1)withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city, But on ^(C2)another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.

-"So the people of two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink ^(C1)water, But would ^(C2)not be satisfied; Yet you have ^(C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"I ^(C1)struck you with scorching wind and mildew; The ^(C2)caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have ^(C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"I sent a ^(C1)plague among you ^(F1)as in Egypt; I ^(C2)killed your young men with the sword, along with your ^(C3)captured horses, And I made the ^(C4)stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have ^(C5)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"I overthrew you, as ^(C1)God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a ^(C2)log snatched from a fire; Yet you have ^(C3)not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"Therefore so I will do to you, Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to ^(C1)meet your God, Israel."

For behold, He who ^(C1)forms mountains and ^(C2)creates the wind, And ^(C3)declares to a person what are His thoughts, He who ^(C4)makes dawn into darkness And ^(C5)treads on the high places of the earth, ^(C6)The LORD God of armies is His name.