Study Desk

Yet I sent you all My servants who spoke for Me again and again, saying, "O, do not do this very sinful thing which I hate!"

They have not been sorry for their sins even to this day. They have not feared Me or walked in My Laws which I have given you and your fathers."'

So none of those left of Judah who have come to live in the land of Egypt will be able to leave and go to the land of Judah, where they want to return and live. None will return except a few who run for their lives.'"

But we will do everything that we have said we would do. We will burn special perfume to the queen of heaven and pour out drink gifts to her. We will do just as we ourselves, our fathers, our kings and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had much food, and got along well, and had no trouble.

"As for the special perfume that you and your fathers, your kings and your leaders, and the people of the land burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, did not the Lord remember it? Did it not come into His mind?

This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says: ‘You and your wives have said with your mouths and have done it with your hands, saying, "For sure we will keep our promises to burn special perfume to the queen of heaven and pour out drink gifts to her." Then keep your promises! Do what you have promised!'

For I am watching over them for trouble and not for good. All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will be destroyed by the sword and hunger until there is an end of them.

This will be the special thing for you to see,' says the Lord. ‘I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that My words will be sure to stand against you for your hurt.'

‘You said, "O, it is bad for me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am tired from crying inside myself, and have found no rest."'"

Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for them. For I am bringing trouble to all flesh,' says the Lord. ‘But I will give you life in all the places you go.'"

That day is the day of the Lord God of All, a day of punishment, when He will punish those who hate Him. The sword will destroy until it is filled. It will drink its fill of their blood. For there will be many killed for the Lord, the God of All, in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

Go up to Gilead and get healing oil, O young daughter of Egypt! You have used many medicines for nothing. There is no healing for you.

The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry. For one soldier has fallen over another. They have both fallen together.

"Make it known in Egypt. Make it known in Migdol, in Memphis, and in Tahpanhes. Say, ‘Take your places and get ready, for the sword has destroyed those around you.'

The Lord made many fall. They have fallen on each other. And they said, ‘Get up! Let us return to our own people and our own land, away from the sword of the one who makes it hard for us.'

Get your things ready for when you are taken away, you who are living in Egypt. For Memphis will become a waste. It will be burned down and will have no people.

Her hired soldiers among her are like calves, ready to eat. For they also have turned back and have run away together. They did not stay in their places. For the day of their trouble has come upon them, the time of their punishment.

Egypt will sound like a snake moving away. For an army will come against her with axes, like those who cut down trees.

"But do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant. Do not be troubled, O Israel. For I am going to save you from far away. I will bring your children back from the land where they are held. Jacob will return and have quiet and rest. And no one will make him afraid.

O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid," says the Lord, "for I am with you. I will make a complete end of all the nations where I have driven you. But I will not make a complete end of you. I will punish you so you will go the right way. I will not leave you without punishment."