Study Desk

They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed officials, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, So that they will be eliminated.

As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat it, But the LORD has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their guilt, And punish them for their sins; They will return to Egypt.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities, and it will consume its palatial buildings.

They will not remain in the LORD'S land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, And in Assyria they will eat unclean food.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

Ephraim, as I have seen, Is planted in a pasture like Tyre; But Ephraim is going to bring out his children for slaughter.

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 up from Egypt, And by a prophet he was protected.

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he incurred guilt 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 wrongdoers will stumble in them.

A fire consumes before them, And behind them a flame devours. 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 dry and desolate land, Its advance guard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will ascend and its odor of decay will come up, Because it has done great things."

"Moreover, what are you to Me, Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you repaying Me with retribution? But if you are showing Me retribution, swiftly and speedily I will return your retribution on your head!

The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge for His people, And a stronghold for 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 do anything but prophesy?

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