Study Desk

"For thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I will place you into the hands of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned away in disgust.

"Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You will drink your sister's cup, Which is deep and wide [and filled to the brim]. You shall be laughed at and derided; It contains much [too much to endure].

'You will drink it and drain it, Then you will gnaw its fragments And tear your breasts; for I have spoken,' says the Lord GOD.

"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore bear now [the consequences of] your lewdness and prostitution.'"

"For thus says the Lord GOD, 'Bring up a horde (mob) against them and hand them over to terror and plunder.

'Thus your lewdness will be repaid to you, and you will suffer the penalty for your [sinful] idolatry; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.'"

"Speak a parable against the rebellious house [of Judah] and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Put on a pot; put it on and also pour water into it;

'Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe (judgment is coming) to the bloody city, To the pot in which there is rust And whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece by piece, Without making any choice.

'Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the bloody city! I will also make the pile [of wood] high.

"I the LORD have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not relent, and I will not have compassion and I will not be sorry; in accordance with your ways and in accordance with your deeds I will judge and punish you," says the Lord GOD.'"

'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind [in Jerusalem] will fall by the sword.

'So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; in accordance with all that he has done you will do. And when this [destruction of the temple] comes, then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.'"

"And say to the Ammonites, 'Hear the word of the Lord GOD, for thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you said, 'Aha!' against My sanctuary when it was profaned and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate and against the house of Judah when they went into exile,

'For thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the contempt, and malice, and spite of your soul against the land of Israel,

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because Moab and Seir (Edom) say, 'Behold, the house of Judah is like all the [pagan] nations,'

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended and has incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them,"

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and I will cut off and destroy man and beast. I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

"I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom in accordance with My anger and My wrath, and they will know and experience My vengeance," says the Lord GOD.

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because the Philistines have acted revengefully and have taken vengeance [contemptuously] with malice in their hearts to destroy with everlasting hostility and hatred,"

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast.