Study Desk

They make their idols beautiful with silver and gold. They use hammers and nails to fasten their idols down so that they will not fall over.

The idols of the other nations are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field. They cannot walk. They cannot talk, and the people must carry them. So don't be afraid of their idols. They cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you either."

People are so stupid! Metalworkers are fooled by the idols that they themselves made. These statues are nothing but lies. They are stupid.

This is what the Lord says: "This time, I will throw the people of Judah out of this country. I will bring pain and trouble to them. I will do this so that they will learn their lesson."

The shepherds are stupid. They don't try to find the Lord . They are not wise, so their flocks are scattered and lost.

So correct us, Lord ! But please be fair. Don't punish us in anger, or you will destroy us!

But your ancestors did not listen to me. They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted. The agreement says that bad things will happen to them if they don't obey. So I made all the bad things happen to them. I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.'"

So this is what the Lord says: "I will soon make something terrible happen to the people of Judah. They will not be able to escape. They will be sorry and cry to me for help, but I will not listen to them.

The Lord showed me that the men of Anathoth were making plans against me. He showed me what they were doing, so I knew they were against me.

So I prayed, " Lord All-Powerful, you are a fair judge. You know how to test people's hearts and minds. I will tell you my arguments, and I will let you give them the punishment they deserve."

My own people turned against me like a wild lion. They roared at me, so I turned away from them.

So I bought a linen loincloth, just as the Lord told me to do, and I put it around my waist.

So I went to Perath and hid the loincloth there, just as the Lord told me to do.

So I went to Perath and dug the loincloth out of the crack in the rocks where I had hidden it. But now I could not wear the loincloth, because it was ruined. It was not good for anything.

A loincloth is wrapped tightly around a man's waist. In the same way, I wrapped the family of Israel and the family of Judah around me." This message is from the Lord . "I did that so that they would be my people and bring me fame, praise, and honor. But my people did not listen to me."

The leaders of the people send their servants to get water. The servants go to the water storage places, but they don't find any water. The servants come back with empty jars, so they are ashamed and embarrassed. They cover their heads from shame.

No one prepares the ground for crops. No rain falls on the land. The farmers are depressed. So they cover their heads from shame.

You seem like a man who has been attacked by surprise, like a soldier who does not have the power to save anyone. But, Lord , you are with us. We are called by your name, so don't leave us without help!"

This is what the Lord says about the people of Judah: "The people of Judah really love to leave me. They don't stop themselves from leaving me. So now the Lord will not accept them. Now he will remember the evil they do. He will punish them for their sins."

So this is what I, the Lord , say about the prophets who are speaking in my name. I did not send them. They said, ‘No enemy will ever attack this country. There will never be hunger in this land.' So those prophets will die from hunger or by an enemy's sword.