Study Desk

-"But now what are you doing ^(C1)on the road to Egypt, Except to drink the waters of the ^(F1)(C2)Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, Except to drink the waters of the Euphrates River?

-"^(C1)Your own wickedness will correct you, And your ^(C2)apostasies will punish you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and ^(C3)bitter For you to abandon the LORD your God, And ^(C4)the fear of Me is not in you," declares the Lord ^(F1)GOD of armies.

"For long ago ^(F1)(C1)I broke your yoke And tore off your restraints; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every ^(C2)high hill And under every leafy tree You have lain down as a prostitute.

-"Yet I ^(C1)planted you as a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the ^(C2)degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

-"Although you ^(C1)wash yourself with lye And ^(F1)use much soap, The ^(C2)stain of your guilt is before Me," declares the Lord ^(F2)GOD.

"^(C1)How can you say, 'I am not defiled, I have not gone after the ^(C2)Baals'? Look at your way in the ^(C3)valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel ^(C4)running about senselessly on her ways,

A ^(C1)wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. Who can turn her away in her mating season? None who seek her will grow weary; In her month they will find her.

-"Keep your feet from being bare, And your throat from thirst; But you said, '^(C1)It is ^(F1)hopeless! No! For I have ^(C2)loved strangers, And I will walk after them.'

"Like the shame of a ^(C1)thief when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their leaders, Their priests, and their prophets,

Who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their ^(C1)backs to Me, And not their faces; But in the ^(C2)time of their ^(F1)trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us!'

-"But where are your ^(C1)gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can ^(C2)save you In the time of your ^(F1)trouble! For ^(C3)as many as the number of your cities Are your gods, Judah.

"Why do you contend with Me? You have ^(C1)all revolted against Me," declares the LORD.

"^(C1)In vain I have struck your sons; They did not accept discipline. Your ^(C2)sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.

-"You generation, look to the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a ^(C1)land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, '^(C2)We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You'?

-"Can a virgin forget her jewelry, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have ^(C1)forgotten Me For days without number.

-"How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even to the wicked women You have taught your ways.

-"Also on your skirts is found The ^(C1)lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them ^(C2)breaking in. But in spite of all these things,

You said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' Behold, I will ^(C1)enter into judgment with you Because you ^(C2)say, 'I have not sinned.'

-"Why do you ^(C1)go around so much Changing your way? Also, ^(C2)you will be put to shame by Egypt, Just as you were put to shame by ^(C3)Assyria.