Study Desk

"In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God whom they will seek.

"Therefore this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: 'Behold, I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I punished the king of Assyria.

The LORD has opened His armory And has brought out the weapons of His indignation, For it is a work of the Lord GOD of armies In the land of the Chaldeans.

There is a sound of fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, Vengeance for His temple.

"Behold, I am against you, arrogant one," Declares the Lord GOD of armies, "For your day has come, The time when I will punish you.

"As when God overthrew Sodom And Gomorrah with its neighbors," declares the LORD, "No one will live there, Nor will anyone of mankind reside in it.

For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken By his God, the LORD of armies, Although their land is full of guilt Before the Holy One of Israel.

The LORD has brought about our vindication; Come and let's recount in Zion The work of the LORD our God!

For this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: "The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor At the time that it is tread down; In just a little while the time of harvest will come for her."

For the destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon, And her warriors will be captured, Their bows shattered; For the LORD is a God of retribution, He will fully repay.

We raise our heart and hands Toward God in heaven;

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

"So I am sending you to those who are impudent and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says:'

"Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.'"

"But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says:' The one who hears, let him hear; and the one who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

But I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by animals, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth!"

"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'This is Jerusalem; I have placed her at the center of the nations, with lands around her.

"Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have more turmoil than the nations that surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor executed My ordinances, nor acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you,'

therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.

'Therefore as I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'Because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, I definitely will also withdraw and My eye will have no pity, and I also will not spare.