Study Desk

You became famous for your beauty, all because I made you so lovely!'" This is what the Lord God said.

You are just the opposite of most prostitutes who force men to pay them, because you pay the men to have sex with you."

Why will all these things happen? Because you did not remember what happened when you were young. You did all those bad things and made me angry. So I had to punish you for doing them, but you planned even more terrible things." This is what the Lord God said.

But the king of Judah will not escape, because he ignored his agreement. He broke his promise to Nebuchadnezzar."

The Lord God makes this promise: "By my life, I swear that I will punish the king of Judah, because he ignored my warnings and broke our agreement.

I will set my trap, and he will be caught in it. Then I will bring him to Babylon, and I will punish him there. I will punish him because he turned against me,

He lends money to people who need it, but he forces them to pay interest on the loan. The evil son will not be allowed to live. He will be put to death because he did such terrible things, and he will be responsible for his own death.

The father hurts people and steals things. He never does anything good for my people! He will die because of his own sins.

"Now, maybe good people might stop being good. They might change their lives and begin to do all the terrible things that evil people have done in the past. (The evil people changed, so they can live.) So if those good people change and become bad, God will not remember all the good things they did. He will remember that they turned against him and began to sin. So they will die because of their sin.

Why? Because, family of Israel, I will judge each of you only for what you do!" This is what the Lord God said. "So come back to me! Stop committing those crimes and do away with those things that cause you to sin!

"‘But the family of Israel turned against me in the desert. They did not follow my laws. They refused to obey my rules—even though people who obey my laws live because of them. They treated my special days of rest as if they were not important. They worked on those days many times. I decided to destroy them in the desert—to let them feel the full force of my anger.

"‘The people of Israel refused to obey my rules or to follow my laws. They treated my days of rest as if they were not important. They did all these things because their hearts belonged to their filthy idols.

"‘But the children turned against me and did not obey my laws. They did not keep my commands—even though people who obey my laws live because of them. They treated my special days of rest as though they were not important. So I decided to destroy them completely in the desert—to let them feel the full force of my anger.

Family of Israel, you did many evil things, and you should be destroyed because of them. But to protect my good name, I will not give you the punishment you really deserve. Then you will know that I am the Lord ." This is what the Lord God said.

Then they will ask you, ‘Why are you making these sad sounds?' Then you must say, ‘Because of the sad news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear. All hands will become weak. Every spirit will become weak. All knees will be like water.' Look, that bad news is coming. These things will happen!" This is what the Lord God said.

"‘Son of man, shout out and scream because the sword will be used against my people and all the rulers of Israel. They wanted war—so they will be with my people when the sword comes. So slap your thigh to show your sadness,

because it is not just a test. You refused to be punished with the wooden stick, so what else should I use to punish you? A sword? '" This is what the Lord God said.

But the people in Jerusalem will think this is all a big mistake. They will not believe that this could happen, because they had made a peace agreement with Babylon's king. But the king will remind them that they are guilty of breaking that agreement, and he will take them captive."

You will drink the poison in that cup. You will drink it to the last drop. You will throw down the glass and break it to pieces. You will tear at your breasts from the pain. This will happen because I am the Lord God , and this is what I said.

"But good men will judge them guilty of adultery and murder, because Oholah and Oholibah committed adultery and their hands are covered with blood!"