Study Desk

But God, who is Jacob's Portion, is not like the idols. He made everything, and he chose Israel to be his special people. The Lord All-Powerful is his name.

Lord , correct me, but be fair. Don't punish me in your anger, or you will destroy me.

But your ancestors did not listen to me. They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted. So I made all the curses of this agreement come upon them. I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.'"

So this is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon bring a disaster on the people of Judah which they will not be able to escape. They will cry to me for help, but I will not listen to them.

The people living in the towns of Judah and the city of Jerusalem will pray to their idols to whom they burn incense. But those idols will not be able to help when disaster comes.

The Lord called you "a leafy olive tree, with beautiful fruit and shape." But with the roar of a strong storm he will set that tree on fire, and its branches will be burned up.

But, Lord All-Powerful, you are a fair judge. You know how to test peoples' hearts and minds. I have told you what I have against them. So let me see you give them the punishment they deserve.

Lord , when I bring my case to you, you are always right. But I want to ask you about the justice you give. Why are evil people successful? Why do dishonest people have such easy lives?

You have put the evil people here like plants with strong roots. They grow and produce fruit. With their mouths they speak well of you, but their hearts are really far away from you.

But you know my heart, Lord . You see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag the evil people away like sheep to be butchered. Set them aside for the day of killing.

The people have planted wheat, but they have harvested only thorns. They have worked hard until they were very tired, but they have nothing for all their work. They are ashamed of their poor harvest, because the Lord 's terrible anger has caused this."

But after I pull them up, I will feel sorry for them again. I will bring each person back to his own property and to his own land.

I want them to learn their lessons well. In the past they taught my people to swear by Baal's name. But if they will now learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives... ' I will allow them to rebuild among my people.

But if a nation will not listen to my message, I will pull it up completely and destroy it," says the Lord .

So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined; it was good for nothing.

As a belt is wrapped tightly around a person's waist, I wrapped the families of Israel and Judah around me," says the Lord . "I did that so they would be my people and bring fame, praise, and honor to me. But my people would not listen.

Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness and before you slip and fall on the dark hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it into thick darkness; he will change it into deep gloom.

The important men send their servants to get water. They go to the wells, but they find no water. So they return with empty jars. They are ashamed and embarrassed and cover their heads in shame.

Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills and sniff the wind like wild dogs. But their eyes go blind, because there is no food."

Why are you like someone who has been attacked by surprise, like a warrior who is not able to save anyone? But you are among us, Lord , and we are called by your name so don't leave us without help!