Study Desk

You will sow but will not reap, you will press olives but not rub yourself with oil, likewise you will press grapes but not drink the wine.

But as for me, I will look to Adonai , I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Adonai is slow to anger, but great in power; and he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Adonai 's path is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

But with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of [Ninveh's] place, and darkness will pursue his enemies.

This is a prophecy about Ninveh, the book of the vision of Nachum the Elkoshi: Adonai is a jealous and vengeful God. Adonai avenges; he knows how to be angry. Adonai takes vengeance on his foes and stores up wrath for his enemies. Adonai is slow to anger, but great in power; and he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Adonai 's path is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and leaves it dry, he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and the Karmel languish; the flower of the L'vanon withers. The mountains quake before him, and the hills dissolve; the earth collapses in his presence, the world and everyone living in it. Who can withstand his fury? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, the rocks broken to pieces before him. Adonai is good, a stronghold in time of trouble; he takes care of those who take refuge in him. But with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of [Ninveh's] place, and darkness will pursue his enemies. What are you planning against Adonai ? He is making an end [of it]; trouble will not arise a second time. For like men drunk with liquor, they will be burned up like tangled thorns, like straw completely dry. Out of you, [Ninveh,] he came, one who plots evil against Adonai , who counsels wickedness. Here is what Adonai says: "Though they be many and strong, they will be cut down, they will pass; and though I have made you suffer, I will make you suffer no more. Now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap the chains that bind you. Adonai gave this order concerning you: you will have no descendants to bear your name; from the house of your god I will cut off carved image and cast metal image; I will prepare your grave, because you are worthless."

Ninveh is like a pool whose water ebbs away. "Stop! Stop!" But none of it goes back.

Your guards are like grasshoppers, your marshals like swarms of locusts, which settle on the walls on a cold day, but when the sun rises they fly away; they vanish to no one knows where.

Adonai , how long must I cry without your hearing? "Violence!" I cry to you, but you don't save.

Then they sweep on like the wind, but they become guilty, because they make their strength their god."

For the vision is meant for its appointed time; it speaks of the end, and it does not lie. It may take a while, but wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

"Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright; but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness.

Truly, wine is treacherous; the arrogant will not live at peace but keeps expanding his desires like Sh'ol; like death, he can never be satisfied; he keeps collecting all the nations for himself, rallying to himself all the peoples.

But Adonai is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Adonai , I have heard the report about you. Adonai , I am awed by your deeds. Bring your work to life in our own age, make it known in our own time; but in anger, remember compassion.

When I heard, my whole body trembled, my lips shook at the sound; weakness overcame my limbs, my legs gave way beneath me. But I wait calmly for the day of trouble, when it comes upon our assailants.

those worshipping heaven's army on the roofs, also those who worship and swear by Adonai but swear by Malkam as well,

For this, their wealth will be plundered; and their houses will be destroyed. Yes, they will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine."

I said, ‘Surely now you will fear me, you will receive correction'; so that her place will not be cut off by all the punishments I brought on her. But no, they only grew all the more eager to be corrupt in all that they do.

You sow much but bring in little; you eat but aren't satisfied; you drink but never have enough; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who works for a living earns wages that are put in a bag full of holes.'"

‘You looked for much, but it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' asks Adonai -Tzva'ot. ‘Because my house lies in ruins, while every one of you runs to take care of his own house.