Study Desk

Therefore thus says the LORD God: As I live, because he has despised my oaths and nullified my covenant, I will punish him for it.

Thus says the LORD God: I will also take one of the choicest branches of the highest cedar, and I will clip it; I will crop off from the top of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon high and lofty mountains;

As I live, says the LORD God, this proverb shall never be used again in Israel.

Has walked in my commandments, and has kept my judgments, and has done justice; he who does so is a righteous man and shall surely live, says the LORD God.

I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, says the LORD God; but rather that he should return from his evil ways and live.

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the LORD God. Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that your sins may not be your ruin.

For I have no pleasure in the death of any one who dies, says the LORD God; wherefore repent and live.

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, Thus says the LORD God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, says the LORD God, I will not give you an answer.

And say to them, Thus says the LORD God: In the day when I chose Israel and swore by lifting up my hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them and said to them, I am the LORD your God;

And I said to them, Cast away every man his image from before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.

I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes and keep my judgments and do them:

And hallow my sabbaths: and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

Therefore, Son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them. Thus says the LORD God: Yet in this very manner your fathers have blasphemed before me in their iniquity which they dealt treacherously against me.

Wherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the LORD God: You have defiled yourselves after the manner of your fathers and you go astray after their idols;

And you offer your gift offerings and make your sons to pass through the fire; you have polluted yourselves with your idols, even to this day; and yet you wish to inquire of me, O house of Israel? As I live, says the LORD God, I will not give you an answer.

As I live, says the LORD God, surely with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm and with fury poured out will I rule over you.

Just as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, says the LORD God.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the LORD God: If you will not hearken to me, go then and serve every one his own idols, but pollute not my holy name any more with your gift offerings and with your idols.

For on my holy mountain, even in the mountain height of Israel, says the LORD God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me perfectly; there will I be pleased with them, and there will I require their offerings and the first fruits of their harvest and the choicest of their gift offerings with all their holy things.

And you shall know that I am the LORD who had pity upon you for my names sake, not according to your evil ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the LORD God,