Study Desk

Forge the chain, for the land is filled with crimes of bloodshed, and the city is filled with violence.

Then He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, ‘The Lord does not see us. The Lord has abandoned the land.'"

So He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord 's house, and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

And He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the detestable things they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and repeatedly provoke Me to anger, even putting the branch to their nose?

He answered me: "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity. For they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land; He does not see.'

But as for Me, I will not show pity or spare them. I will bring their actions down on their own heads."

When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

The city will not be a pot for you, and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel,

"Therefore say: This is what the Lord God says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.

But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for detestable things and practices, I will bring their actions down on their own heads." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

"Son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.

And while they look on, lift the bags to your shoulder and take them out in the dark; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."

You are to say, ‘I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.'

Then say to the people of the land: This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there.

For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

But I, Yahweh, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done. It will no longer be delayed. For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘This is the Lord 's declaration,' when the Lord did not send them, yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

"Since they have led My people astray saying, ‘Peace,' when there is no peace, for when someone builds a wall they plaster it with whitewash,

those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace." This is the declaration of the Lord God .