Study Desk

And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord , neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.

"I have loved you," says the Lord . But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord . "Yet I have loved Jacob

but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."

If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the Lord of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,' and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.'"

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?'

By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?' By saying that the Lord 's table may be despised.

But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord .

But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction."

But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

"For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord , the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord , and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?'

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.

"Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord . But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?'

And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.'"

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.