Study Desk

Family of Israel, you did many evil things, and you should be destroyed because of them. But to protect my good name, I will not give you the punishment you really deserve. Then you will know that I am the Lord ." This is what the Lord God said.

Say to the Negev Forest, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord . This is what the Lord God said: Look, I am ready to start a fire in your forest. The fire will destroy every green tree and every dry tree. The flame that burns will not be put out. All the land from south to north will be burned by the fire.

Then I said, "Oh, Lord God ! If I say this, the people will say that I am only telling them stories."

Then they will ask you, ‘Why are you making these sad sounds?' Then you must say, ‘Because of the sad news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear. All hands will become weak. Every spirit will become weak. All knees will be like water.' Look, that bad news is coming. These things will happen!" This is what the Lord God said.

because it is not just a test. You refused to be punished with the wooden stick, so what else should I use to punish you? A sword? '" This is what the Lord God said.

This is what the Lord God says: "You have done many evil things. Your sins are very clear. You forced me to remember that you are guilty, so the enemy will catch you in his hand.

This is what the Lord God says: "Take off the turban! Take off the crown! The time has come to change. The important leaders will be brought low, and those who are not important now will become important leaders.

"Son of man, speak to the people for me. Say this, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the people of Ammon and their shameful god: "‘Look, a sword! The sword is out of its sheath. It has been polished. The sword is ready to kill. It was polished to flash like lightning!

You must say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: The city is full of murderers, so her time of punishment will come. She made filthy idols for herself, and those idols made her filthy!

There men accept bribes to kill people. You lend money and charge interest on the loans. You cheat your neighbors just to make a little money. You have even forgotten me.' This is what the Lord God said.

So this is what the Lord God says: ‘All of you have become like worthless waste. So I will gather you into Jerusalem.

"The prophets don't warn the people—they cover up the truth. They are like workers who don't really repair a wall—they only put plaster over the holes. They only see lies. They do their magic to learn the future, but they only tell lies. They say, ‘This is what the Lord God said.' But they are only lying—the Lord did not speak to them!

So I will show them my anger—I will completely destroy them. I will punish them for the evil things they have done. It is all their fault." This is what the Lord God said.

So Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: ‘You became disgusted with your lovers, but I will bring them here, and they will surround you.

This is what the Lord God says: "I am giving you to the men you hate. I am giving you to the men you became disgusted with.

This is what the Lord God says: "You will drink your sister's cup of poison. It is a tall, wide cup of poison. It holds much poison. People will laugh at you and make fun of you.

You will drink the poison in that cup. You will drink it to the last drop. You will throw down the glass and break it to pieces. You will tear at your breasts from the pain. This will happen because I am the Lord God , and this is what I said.

"So this is what the Lord God said: ‘Jerusalem, you forgot me. You threw me away and left me behind. So now you must suffer for leaving me and living like a prostitute. You must suffer for your wicked dreams.'"

This is what the Lord God said: "Gather the people together to punish and terrorize Oholah and Oholibah.

They will punish you for the wicked things you did. You will be punished for worshiping your filthy idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord God ."