Study Desk

[Chorus] Where has your darling gone, you most beautiful of women? Which way did your darling turn, so that we can help you find him?

[Chorus] Where has your darling gone, you most beautiful of women? Which way did your darling turn, so that we can help you find him? [She] My darling went down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies. I belong to the man I love, and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies. [He] You are as beautiful as Tirtzah, my love, as lovely as Yerushalayim, but formidable as an army marching under banners. Turn your eyes away from me, because they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Gil‘ad. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that have just come up from being washed; each of them is matched, and none of them is missing. Your cheeks are like a pomegranate split open behind your veil. There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, as well as young women beyond number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, her mother's only child, the darling of the one who bore her. The daughters see her and call her happy; the queens and concubines praise her. "Who is this, shining forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun" — but formidable as an army marching under banners? [She] I had gone down to the nut orchard to see the fresh green plants in the valley, to see if the vine had budded, or if the pomegranate trees were in bloom. Before I knew it, I found myself in a chariot, and with me was a prince.

It will be a sign and witness to Adonai -Tzva'ot in the land of Egypt; so that when they cry out to Adonai for help because of the oppressors, he will send them a savior to defend and rescue them.

"I will fasten him firmly in place like a peg, so that he will become a seat of honor for his clan.

Look at the land of the Kasdim! This was the people who did not exist when Ashur destined it for desert creatures. They erected their siege towers and tore down her palaces, so that it has been made a ruin.

"Take a lyre, walk the city, you poor, forgotten whore! Play sweetly, sing all your songs, so that they will remember you!"

But her merchandise and profits will be dedicated to Adonai ; they will not be stored up or hoarded, because her profits will be for those living in Adonai 's presence, so that they can eat their fill and wear fine clothing.

"I, Adonai , guard it. Moment to moment I water it. So that no harm will come to it, I guard it night and day.

so that [one has to use nursery rhymes]? — Tzav la-tzav, tzav la-tzav, kav la-kav, kav la-kav z‘eir sham, z‘eir sham [Precept by precept, precept by precept, line by line, line by line, a little here, a little there].

So now the word of Adonai for them comes "precept by precept, precept by precept, line by line, line by line, a little here, a little there," so that when they walk, they stumble backward, and are broken, trapped and captured!

Now go, inscribe it on a tablet, write it for them in a scroll, so that on the final day it will be a witness forever and ever.

for the mean person will speak meanness, his heart planning evil, so that he can act godlessly, spreading error concerning Adonai , as he lets the hungry go on starving and deprives the thirsty of drink.

Where is the god of any of these countries that has saved its country from my power, so that Adonai might be able to save Yerushalayim from my power?'"

Now therefore, Adonai our God, save us from his power — so that all the kingdoms on earth will know that you are Adonai — you only."

Bring out those idols! Have them foretell the future for us, tell us about past events, so that we can reflect on them and understand their consequences. Or tell us about events yet to come,

state what will happen in the future, so that we can know you are gods. At least, do something, either good or bad — anything, to make us awestruck and fearful!

so that you can open blind eyes, free the prisoners from confinement, those living in darkness from the dungeon.

Listen, you deaf! Look, you blind! — so that you will see!

All the nations are gathered together, and the peoples are assembled. Who among them can proclaim this and reveal what happened in the past? Let them bring their witnesses to justify themselves, so that others, on hearing, can say, "That's true."

"You are my witnesses," says Adonai , "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you can know and trust me and understand that I am he — no god was produced before me, nor will any be after me.