Study Desk

^(C1)Listen, heavens, and hear, ^(C2)earth; For the LORD has spoken: "^(C3)Sons I have raised and brought up, But they have ^(C4)revolted against Me.

-"An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master's manger, But Israel ^(C1)does not know, My people ^(C2)do not understand."

Oh, sinful nation, People weighed down with guilt, ^(F1)(C1)Offspring of evildoers, Sons who ^(C2)act corruptly! They have ^(C3)abandoned the LORD, They have ^(C4)despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away ^(F2)from Him.

Where will you be stricken again, As you ^(C1)continue in your rebellion? The entire head is ^(C2)sick And the entire heart is faint.

^(C1)From the sole of the foot even to the head There is ^(C2)nothing healthy in it, Only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; ^(C3)Not pressed out nor bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

Your ^(C1)land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; As for your fields, strangers are devouring them in front of you; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman's hut in a cucumber field, like a city under watch.

^(C1)If the LORD of armies Had not left us a few ^(C2)survivors, We would be like ^(C3)Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

Hear ^(C1)the word of the LORD, You rulers of ^(C2)Sodom; Listen to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah!

"^(C1)What are your many sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I ^(F1)have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fattened cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.

-"When you come ^(C1)to appear before Me, Who requires ^(F1)of you this trampling of My courtyards?

-"Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, ^(C1)Incense is an abomination to Me. ^(C2)New moon and Sabbath, the ^(C3)proclamation of an assembly— I cannot ^(C4)endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.

-"^(F1)I hate your new moon festivals and your ^(C1)appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am ^(C2)tired of bearing them.

-"So when you ^(C1)spread out your hands in prayer, ^(C2)I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you ^(C3)offer many prayers, I will not be listening. ^(C4)Your hands are ^(F1)covered with blood.

"^(C1)Wash yourselves, ^(C2)make yourselves clean; ^(C3)Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. ^(C4)Stop doing evil,

Learn to do good; ^(C1)Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, ^(C2)Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow's case.

"Come now, and ^(C1)let us ^(F1)debate your case," Says the LORD, "^(C2)Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.

-"^(C1)If you are willing and obedient, You will ^(C2)eat the best of the land;

But if you refuse and rebel, You will be ^(C1)devoured by the sword." For ^(C2)the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

How the faithful city has become a ^(C1)prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.

Your silver has become ^(F1)waste matter, Your drink diluted with water.

Your ^(C1)rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone ^(C2)loves a bribe And chases after gifts. They ^(C3)do not obtain justice for the ^(F1)orphan, Nor does the widow's case come before them.

Therefore the Lord ^(F1)GOD of armies, The ^(C1)Mighty One of Israel, declares, "Ah, I will have satisfaction against My adversaries, And ^(C2)avenge Myself on My enemies.

-"I will also turn My hand against you, And ^(C1)smelt away your impurities as with lye; And I will remove all your slag.

-"Then I will restore your ^(C1)judges as at first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the ^(C2)city of righteousness, A faithful city."

Zion will be ^(C1)redeemed with justice And her ^(F1)repentant ones with righteousness.

But ^(F1)wrongdoers and sinners together will be ^(C1)broken, And those who abandon the LORD will come to an end.

^(F1)You certainly will be ashamed of the ^(F2)(C1)oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed by the ^(C2)gardens which you have chosen.

For you will be like an ^(F1)oak whose ^(C1)leaf withers away, Or like a garden that has no water.

The strong man will become like ^(F1)flax fiber, And his work a spark. So they shall both ^(C1)burn together And there will be ^(C2)no one to extinguish them.