Study Desk

Yet they did not listen to Me or turn their ear to Me, but made their neck hard. They sinned more than their fathers.

"You will speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You will call to them, but they will not answer you.

So the days are coming," says the Lord, "when it will not be called Topheth any more, or the valley of the son of Hinnom. But it will be called the valley of Killing. For they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place.

I have listened and heard, but they have not said what is right. No man turned from his sinful way, saying, ‘What have I done?' Every one turns to his own way like a horse running into battle.

Even the stork in the sky knows her times. And the turtle-dove, crane, and swallow keep the time of their coming. But My people do not know the Law of the Lord.

We waited for peace, but no good came. We waited for a time of healing, but see, there is much trouble.

Their tongue is an arrow that kills. It lies. A man speaks peace to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he plans to trap him.

But they have followed the strongwill of their own hearts, and have gone after the false gods of Baal, as their fathers taught them."

Say, "This is what the Lord says: ‘The dead bodies of men will fall like animal waste on the open field, and like grain after the gatherer. But no one will gather them.'"

But let him who speaks with pride speak about this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who shows loving-kindness and does what is fair and right and good on earth. For I find joy in these things," says the Lord.

"See, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will punish all who have gone through the religious act of the Jews, but have not had the sin cut from their heart.

But the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the King Who lives forever. The earth shakes at His anger. And the nations cannot last when He is angry.

It is bad for me because I am hurt! My sore cannot be healed. But I said, "For sure this sickness is mine, and I must suffer with it."

Punish me when I need it, O Lord, but be fair. Do not punish me in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

Yet they did not obey or listen. Every one walked in his own strong-will because of his sinful heart. So I brought upon them all the words of this agreement, which I told them to do, but they did not.'"

Then the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn special perfume. But they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.

The Lord called you, "A green olive tree, beautiful and with good fruit." But with a noise like thunder He set fire to it, and its branches were destroyed.

But I was like a gentle lamb led to be killed. I did not know that they had made plans against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit. Let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."

But, O Lord of All, Who is right as He judges, Who tests the heart and the mind, let me see You punish them. For I have put my cause before You.

You have planted them, and they have taken root. They grow and have given fruit. You are near on their lips but far from their heart.