Study Desk

But you have done even worse than your ancestors. All of you are stubborn and evil, and you do not obey me.

Lord , you are the one who protects me and gives me strength; you help me in times of trouble. Nations will come to you from the ends of the earth and say, "Our ancestors had nothing but false gods, nothing but useless idols.

"But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me.

The person who gets money dishonestly is like a bird that hatches eggs it didn't lay. In the prime of life he will lose his riches, and in the end he is nothing but a fool.

But, Lord , I never urged you to bring disaster on them; I did not wish a time of trouble for them. Lord , you know this; you know what I have said.

Bring disgrace on those who persecute me, but spare me, Lord . Fill them with terror, but do not terrify me. Bring disaster on them and break them to pieces.

But they must obey me and observe the Sabbath as a sacred day. They must not carry any load through the gates of Jerusalem on that day, for if they do, I will set the gates of Jerusalem on fire. Fire will burn down the palaces of Jerusalem, and no one will be able to put it out."

but then that nation turns from its evil, I will not do what I said I would.

but then that nation disobeys me and does evil, I will not do what I said I would.

But now, Lord , let their children starve to death; let them be killed in war. Let the women lose their husbands and children; let the men die of disease and the young men be killed in battle.

But, Lord , you know all their plots to kill me. Do not forgive their evil or pardon their sin. Throw them down in defeat and deal with them while you are angry."

But when I say, "I will forget the Lord and no longer speak in his name," then your message is like a fire burning deep within me. I try my best to hold it in, but can no longer keep it back.

But you, Lord , are on my side, strong and mighty, and those who persecute me will fail. They will be disgraced forever, because they cannot succeed. Their disgrace will never be forgotten.

But, Almighty Lord , you test people justly; you know what is in their hearts and minds. So let me see you take revenge on my enemies, for I have placed my cause in your hands.

But as for you, your officials, and the people who survive the war, the famine, and the disease—I will let all of you be captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and by your enemies, who want to kill you. Nebuchadnezzar will put you to death. He will not spare any of you or show mercy or pity to any of you. I, the Lord , have spoken."

Anyone who stays in the city will be killed in war or by starvation or disease. But those who go out and surrender to the Babylonians, who are now attacking the city, will not be killed; they will at least escape with their life.

I have made up my mind not to spare this city, but to destroy it. It will be given over to the king of Babylonia, and he will burn it to the ground. I, the Lord , have spoken."

You, Jerusalem, are sitting high above the valleys, like a rock rising above the plain. But I will fight against you. You say that no one can attack you or break through your defenses.

But I will punish you for what you have done. I will set your palace on fire, and the fire will burn down everything around it. I, the Lord , have spoken."

But if you do not obey my commands, then I swear to you that this palace will fall into ruins. I, the Lord , have spoken.