Study Desk

They have installed kings,but not through me.They have appointed leaders,but without my approval.They make their silver and goldinto idols for themselvesfor their own destruction.

Ephraim is a well-trained calfthat loves to thresh,but I will place a yoke on her fine neck.I will harness Ephraim;Judah will plow;Jacob will do the final plowing.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,taking them by the hand,but they never knew that I healed them.

But you must return to your God.Maintain love and justice,and always put your hope in God.

But Ephraim thinks,“How rich I have become;I made it all myself.In all my earnings,no one can find any iniquity in methat I can be punished for!”

I have been the Lord your Godever since the land of Egypt;you know no God but me,and no Savior exists besides me.

I will destroy you, Israel;you have no help but me.

Let whoever is wise understand these things,and whoever is insightful recognize them.For the ways of the Lord are right,and the righteous walk in them,but the rebellious stumble in them.

A fire devours in front of them,and behind them a flame blazes.The land in front of themis like the garden of Eden,but behind them,it is like a desert wasteland;there is no escape from them.

But Judah will be inhabited forever,and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

But you made the Nazirites drink wineand commanded the prophets,“Do not prophesy.”

But let justice flow like water,and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

But you have taken up Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, images you have made for yourselves.

But look, I am raising up a nationagainst you, house of Israel—

but don’t ever prophesy at Bethel again, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”

But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

People will stagger from sea to seaand roam from north to eastseeking the word of the Lord,but they will not find it.

for I am about to give the command,and I will shake the house of Israelamong all the nations,as one shakes a sieve,but not a pebble will fall to the ground.

But there will be a deliverance on Mount Zion,and it will be holy;the house of Jacob will dispossessthose who dispossessed them.

Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire,and the house of Joseph, a burning flame,but the house of Esau will be stubble;Jacob will set them on fire and consume Edom.Therefore no survivor will remainof the house of Esau,for the Lord has spoken.