Study Desk

Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from all the nations of every language will take hold of the hem of a Judean man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!"'"

I will remove its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth. And it too will be a remnant for our God; and it will be like a tribal chief in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusite.

And Yahweh their God will save them on that day, as the flock of his people; for they are like the stones of a diadem, glittering on his land.

And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph I will save. And I will bring them back, because I have compassion on them, and they will be as if I had not rejected them, for I am Yahweh their God, and I will answer them.

Thus says Yahweh my God: "Shepherd the flock doomed to slaughter.

And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, "The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a strength to us, through Yahweh of hosts, their God."

On that day Yahweh will put a shield around the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who stumbles among them on that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh, before them.

And I will bring the remaining third into the fire, and I will refine them like one refines silver, and I will test them like one tests gold. They will call my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,' and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.'"

And you will flee by the valley of my mountains, because the valley of the mountains will reach to Azal, and you will flee like you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. And Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

So then, implore the favor of God so that he will be gracious to us. "This is what you have done. Will he show favor to any of you?" says Yahweh of hosts.

Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we unfaithful to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

Judah has been faithless, and a detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. Judah has profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.

Did not one God make them? But a remnant of the spirit is his. And what does the one God desire? An offspring of God. You must be attentive to your spirit, and you must not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

"For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and he who covers his clothing with violence," says Yahweh of hosts. "You must be attentive to your spirit and you must not be unfaithful."

You have wearied Yahweh with your words, but you ask, "With what have we wearied him?" You have done so when you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and in them he delights," or "Where is the God of justice?"

Will a human dare to rob God? Yet you are robbing me! And you say, ‘How have we robbed you?' In the tithes and the contributions!

You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God! What is the gain if we keep his requirements, and if we walk as mourners before Yahweh of hosts?

And now we are calling the arrogant blessed! Not only do those who do wickedness prosper; they also test God and they escape!'"

You will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him.

"Behold, the virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel," which is translated, "God with us."