Study Desk

Ephraim, as I have seen, Is planted in a pleasant meadow like Tyre; But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them.

They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me.

But I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed festival.

But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel from Egypt, And by a prophet he was kept.

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he did wrong and died.

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.

A fire consumes before them And behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them But a desolate wilderness behind them, And nothing at all escapes them.

"But I will remove the northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, And its vanguard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up, For it has done great things."

"Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head.

The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel.

But Judah will be inhabited forever And Jerusalem for all generations.

"But you made the Nazirites drink wine, And you commanded the prophets saying, 'You shall not prophesy!'

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?

"But they do not know how to do what is right," declares the LORD, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels."

"But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

"But do not resort to Bethel And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble.

"But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.