Study Desk

Thus says the Lord , the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: "Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children":

These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.

The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: ‘The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.'

For thus says the Lord : "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

"Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the Lord .

All your children shall be taught by the Lord , and great shall be the peace of your children.

Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,

you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful.

For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." And he became their Savior.

They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord , and their descendants with them.

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children.

"Therefore I still contend with you, declares the Lord , and with your children's children I will contend.

In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.

Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord ; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise'—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."

"How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.

Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord ; I am weary of holding it in. "Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the gatherings of young men, also; both husband and wife shall be taken, the elderly and the very aged.