Study Desk

"The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt, and Assyria will become their king, because they refuse to turn back to God.

War will sweep through their cities and will destroy them and kill them because of their wicked plans.

Israel said, "I am rich! I am someone with power!" All their money will do them no good because of the sins they have done.

The nation of Israel will be ruined, because it fought against God. The people of Israel will die in war; their children will be torn to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open."

Israel, return to the Lord your God, because your sins have made you fall.

The Lord says, "I will forgive them for leaving me and will love them freely, because I am not angry with them anymore.

A wise person will know these things, and an understanding person will take them to heart. The Lord 's ways are right. Good people live by following them, but those who turn against God die because of them.

Drunks, wake up and cry! All you people who drink wine, cry! Cry because your wine has been taken away from your mouths.

There will be no more grain or drink offerings to offer in the Temple of the Lord . Because of this, the priests, the servants of the Lord , are sad.

Be sad, farmers. Cry loudly, you who grow grapes. Cry for the wheat and the barley. Cry because the harvest of the field is lost.

Priests, put on your rough cloth and cry to show your sadness. Servants of the altar, cry out loud. Servants of my God, keep your rough cloth on all night to show your sadness. Cry because there will be no more grain or drink offerings to offer in the Temple of your God.

Though we planted fig seeds, they lie dry and dead in the dirt. The barns are empty and falling down. The storerooms for grain have been broken down, because the grain has dried up.

The animals are groaning! The herds of cattle wander around confused, because they have no grass to eat; even the flocks of sheep suffer.

Lord , I am calling to you for help, because fire has burned up the open pastures, and flames have burned all the trees in the field.

Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem; shout a warning on my holy mountain. Let all the people who live in the land shake with fear, because the Lord 's day of judging is coming; it is near.

They do not run into each other, because each walks in line. They break through all efforts to stop them and keep coming.

Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken. Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy. He doesn't become angry quickly, and he has great love. He can change his mind about doing harm.

Land, don't be afraid; be happy and full of joy, because the Lord has done a wonderful thing.

Wild animals, don't be afraid, because the open pastures have grown grass. The trees have given fruit; the fig trees and the grapevines have grown much fruit.

So be happy, people of Jerusalem; be joyful in the Lord your God. Because he does what is right, he has brought you rain; he has sent the fall rain and the spring rain for you, as before.