Study Desk

For so says Jehovah to the house of Israel, Seek Me, and live.

But do not seek Bethel, and do not enter Gilgal, and do not cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal going shall go into exile, and Bethel shall be for nothing.

Seek Jehovah, and live, that He not break out like a fire on the house of Joseph, and consume, and no one is putting it out for Bethel.

He abandoned those who turn justice and righteousness into wormwood on the earth.

He who created the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the deep darkness into the morning, and He darkened the day into night; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth, Jehovah is His name;

who flashes out with destruction on the strong; yea, destruction comes on the fortress.

They hate him who rebukes in the gate, and they despise him who speaks uprightly.

So, because of your trampling on the poor, and you take tribute of grain from him; you have built houses of hewn stones, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted desirable vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them.

For I know your many transgressions, and your many sins: distressing the just, taking of a bribe, and turning aside the poor in the gate.

So the understanding ones shall keep silent in that time, for it is an evil time.

Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so Jehovah the God of Hosts shall be with you, as you have spoken.

Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate. It may be that Jehovah the God of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.