Study Desk

"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.

You have become guilty of murder and have become unclean by your idols which you have made. So you have brought your time of punishment near; you have come to the end of your years. That is why I have made you a shame to the nations and why all lands laugh at you.

"‘So, Jerusalem, I will shake my fist at you for stealing money and for murdering people.

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

Israel's priests do cruel things to my teachings and do not honor my holy things. They make no difference between holy and unholy things, and they teach there is no difference between clean and unclean things. They do not remember my Sabbaths, so I am dishonored by them.

"I looked for someone to build up the walls and to stand before me where the walls are broken to defend these people so I would not have to destroy them. But I could not find anyone.

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 I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians, that she wanted so badly.

So these Babylonian men came and had sexual relations with her and made her unclean. After that, she became sick of them.

But she continued her prostitution so openly that everyone knew about it. And I finally became sick of her, as I had her sister.

But she remembered how she was a young prostitute in Egypt, so she took part in even more prostitution.

"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.

I will put a stop to the sinful life you began when you were in Egypt so that you will not desire it or remember Egypt anymore.

You did the same things your sister did, so you will get the same punishment, like a bitter cup to drink.

"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."

They kept going to her as they would go to a prostitute. So they continued to go to Samaria and Jerusalem, these shameful women.

"So I will put an end to sexual sins in the land. Then all women will be warned, and they will not do the sexual sins you have done.

To stir up my anger and revenge, I put the blood she spilled on the bare rock so it will not be covered.

"‘So this is what the Lord God says: How terrible it will be for the city of murderers! I myself will pile the wood high for burning.

Then set the empty pot on the coals so it may become hot and its copper sides glow. The dirty scum stuck inside it may then melt and its rust burn away.