Study Desk

Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.

A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the LORD their God.

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD , circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done- burn with no one to quench it.

They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,' " declares the LORD .

Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back."

Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.

Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.

They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them."

" 'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.

"Why are we sitting here? Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there! For the LORD our God has doomed us to perish and given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against him.

Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: "See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?

The LORD said, "It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law.

The sound of wailing is heard from Zion: 'How ruined we are! How great is our shame! We must leave our land because our houses are in ruins.' "

Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, "This is my sickness, and I must endure it."

"Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.

The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done evil and provoked me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.

Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.' "

How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."