Study Desk

When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?' you will say, ‘Because of what I have heard is going to happen. When it happens, every heart will melt with fear, and all hands will become weak. Everyone will be afraid; all knees will become weak as water. Look, it is coming, and it will happen, says the Lord God .'"

"‘The test will come. And Judah, who is hated by the armies of Babylon, will not last, says the Lord God .'

"So this is what the Lord God says: ‘You have shown how sinful you are by turning against the Lord . Your sins are seen in all the things you do. Because of this proof against you, you will be taken captive by the enemy.

This is what the Lord God says: Take off the royal turban, and remove the crown. Things will change. Those who are important now will be made unimportant, and those who are unimportant now will be made important.

"And you, human, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Ammon and their insults: A sword, a sword is pulled out of its holder. It is polished to kill and destroy, to flash like lightning!

You are to say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: You are a city that kills those who come to live there. You make yourself unclean by making idols.

The people in you take money to kill others. You take unfair interest and profits and make profits by mistreating your neighbor. And you have forgotten me, says the Lord God .

So this is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you have become useless like scum, I am going to put you together inside Jerusalem.

"Human, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not had rain or showers when God is angry.'

And the prophets try to cover this up by false visions and by lying messages. They say, ‘This is what the Lord God says' when the Lord has not spoken.

So I let them see my anger. I destroyed them with an anger that was like fire because of all the things they have done, says the Lord God ."

"So, Jerusalem, this is what the Lord God says: You are tired of your lovers. So now I will make them angry with you and have them attack you from all sides.

"This is what the Lord God says: You became tired of your lovers, but I am going to hand you over to those men you now hate.

"This is what the Lord God says: You will drink the same cup your sister did, and that cup is deep and wide. Everyone will make fun of you, because the cup is full.

You will drink everything in it, and then you will smash it and tear at your breasts. I have spoken, says the Lord God .

"So this is what the Lord God says: You have forgotten me and turned your back on me. So you will be punished for your sexual sins."

"This is what the Lord God says: Bring together a mob against Samaria and Jerusalem, and hand them over to be frightened and robbed.

You will be punished for your sexual sins and the sin of worshiping idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord God ."

And tell a story to the people who refuse to obey me. Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Put on the pot; put it on and pour water in it.

"‘This is what the Lord God says: How terrible it will be for the city of murderers! How terrible it will be for the rusty pot whose rust will not come off! Take the meat out of it, piece by piece. Don't choose any special piece.