Study Desk

"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(C1)uproot it, to tear it down, or to destroy it;

^(C1)if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will ^(C2)relent of the disaster that I planned to bring on it.

"Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to ^(C1)build up or to plant it;

if it does ^(C1)evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will ^(C2)relent of the good with which I said ^(F1)that I would bless it.

"So now, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'This is what the LORD says: "Behold, I am ^(C1)forming a disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Now ^(C2)turn back, each of you from his evil way, and ^(F1)correct your ways and your deeds!"'

"But ^(C1)they will say, 'It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will ^(F1)persist in the ^(C2)stubbornness of his evil heart.'

"Therefore this is what the LORD says: '^(C1)Just ask among the nations, Who ever heard anything like ^(F1)this? The ^(C2)virgin of Israel Has done a most ^(C3)appalling thing.

-'Does the snow of Lebanon leave the rock of the open country alone? Or is the cold flowing water from a foreign land ever dried up?

-'For ^(C1)My people have forgotten Me, ^(C2)They burn incense ^(F1)to worthless gods. And they ^(F2)have stumbled in their ways, In the ^(C3)ancient roads, To walk on paths, Not on a ^(C4)highway,

To make their land a ^(C1)desolation, An object of perpetual ^(C2)hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And ^(C3)shake his head.

-'Like an ^(C1)east wind I will ^(C2)scatter them Before the enemy; I will ^(F1)show them ^(C3)My back and not My face ^(C4)In the day of their disaster.'"