Study Desk

For Adonai -Tzva'ot, who planted you, has decreed evil for you. "It is because of the evil which the house of Isra'el and the house of Y'hudah did to themselves, provoking me with their offerings of incense to Ba‘al."

None of them will remain, for I will bring disaster on the men from ‘Anatot when the year comes for them to be punished."

But, Adonai , you know me and see me; you test my devotion to you; drag them away like sheep to be slaughtered, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

How long must the land mourn and the grass in all the fields wither? The wild animals and birds are consumed because of the wickedness of those who live there; for they say, "He will not see how we end up."

For even your own brothers and your father's family are betraying you; they are in full cry after you. Despite all their nice speech, don't believe them.

For me, my heritage has become like a lion in the forest — she roared out against me; so now I hate her.

For me, my heritage is like a speckled bird of prey — other birds of prey surround her and attack her. Go, gather all the wild animals, and bring them to devour her.

Here is what Adonai says: "As for all my evil neighbors who encroach on the heritage I gave to my people Isra'el as their possession, I will uproot them from their own land, and I will uproot Y'hudah from among them.

So I went to Parah and dug up the loincloth; but when I took it from the place where I had hidden it, I saw that it was ruined and useless for anything.

I will ruin this evil people, who refuse to hear my words and live according to their own stubborn inclinations, who go after other gods to serve and worship them. They will be like this loincloth, which is useless for anything.

For just as a loincloth clings to a man's body, I made the whole house of Isra'el and the whole house of Y'hudah cling to me,' says Adonai , ‘so that they could be my people, building me a name and becoming for me a source of praise and honor. But they would not listen.

Listen and pay attention; don't be proud! For Adonai has spoken.

Tell the king and the queen mother, "Come down from your thrones, for your magnificent crowns are falling from your heads."

Her nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water, so they return with empty jars. Ashamed and dismayed, they cover their heads.

The doe in the countryside, giving birth, abandons her young for lack of grass.

The wild donkeys standing on the bare heights gasp for air like jackals; their eyes grow dim from trying to spot any vegetation."

Although our crimes witness against us, take action, Adonai , for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.

You, hope of Isra'el, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?

Then Adonai said to me, "Don't pray for this people or for their welfare.

Have you rejected Y'hudah completely? Is Tziyon loathsome to you? Why have you struck us irreparably? We looked for peace, but to no avail; for a time of healing, but instead found terror!