Study Desk

"I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a log snatched from a fire; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And take a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of cut stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine.

Who drink wine from sacred bowls While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils— Yet they have not grieved over the collapse of Joseph.

Do horses run on rocks? Or does one plow them with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into poison, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,

Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD not in our midst? Catastrophe will not come upon us."

Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Yet they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," But no one turns back.

Yet she became an exile, She went into captivity; Also her small children were smashed to pieces At the head of every street; They cast lots for her honorable men, And all her great men were bound with shackles.

How long, LORD, have I called for help, And You do not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save.

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hurries toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it delays, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay long.

"Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, 'Awake!' To a mute stone, 'Arise!' That is your teacher? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet there is no breath at all inside it.

Yet I will triumph in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

'I struck you and every work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,' declares the LORD.

'Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not produced fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.'"

"The LORD of armies says this: 'It will yet turn out that peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities.

"I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have You loved us?" "Was Esau not Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob;

Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your marriage companion and your wife by covenant.

You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"

"Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.

"Your words have been arrogant against Me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?"