Study Desk

I will have your future be the sword. All of you will bow down to be killed. Because when I called, you did not answer. I spoke, but you did not hear. You did what was sinful in My eyes, and chose what did not please Me."

So the Lord God says, "See, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. See, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. See, My servants will be glad, but you will be put to shame.

See, My servants will call out for joy with a glad heart. But you will cry out with pain in your heart and with a broken spirit.

And you will leave your name as a curse for My chosen ones. The Lord God will kill you, but My servants will be called by another name.

But be glad and have joy forever in what I make. For see, I make Jerusalem for joy, and her people for happiness.

My hands made all these things, and so all these things came into being," says the Lord. "But I will look to the one who has no pride and is broken in spirit, and who shakes with fear at My Word.

So I will choose their punishments, and will bring on them what they are most afraid of. I called, but no one answered, and spoke, but they did not listen. They did what was sinful in My eyes, and chose what did not please Me."

Hear the word of the Lord, you who shake in fear at His word: "Your brothers who hate you and have nothing to do with you because of Me have said, ‘Let the Lord be honored, that we may see your joy.' But they will be put to shame.

When you see this, your heart will be glad. Your bones will get new strength like the new grass. And the hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants. But He will be angry with those who hate Him.

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, ‘I am only a boy.' You must go everywhere I send you. And you must say whatever I tell you.

And they will fight against you. But they will not have power over you, for I am with you to take you out of trouble," says the Lord.

And I brought you into a rich land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and made My land unclean. You made the land I gave you sinful and hated.

Has a nation changed its gods, even when they are not gods? But My people have changed their greatness for that which does not help them.

"Long ago I broke the load from your neck and tore off your chains. But you said, ‘I will not serve!' For on every high hill and under every green tree you have lain down as a woman who sells the use of her body.

Do not run until your shoes wear out or until your mouth is dry. But you said, ‘It is of no use, for I love strange gods, and I will go after them.'

They say to a tree, ‘You are my father,' and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Rise up and save us.'

But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble. For you have as many gods as cities, O Judah.

On your clothing is found the blood of the poor who could not be blamed. You did not find them breaking in. But even with all these things,

God says, "If a husband divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be made unclean? But you are like a sinful woman with many lovers, yet would you return to Me?" says the Lord.

Will You be angry forever? Will You be angry to the end?' See, this is how you talk, but you do all the sinful things you can."