Study Desk

I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

For I take no pleasure in anyone's death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Keep My Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God."

But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances-though the man who does these things will live by them-and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts-the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire-so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.'

So I asked them: What is this high place to which you go?' (And to this day it is called Bamah.)

When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.

So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword that slays the great-it surrounds them!

So that their hearts may melt and many may stumble, I have appointed at all their gates a sword for slaughter. Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.

Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds-because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.

Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.

As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out My wrath upon you.'"