Study Desk

But if I see that nation doing evil things and not obeying me, I will think again about the good I had planned to do for them.

But the people of Judah will answer, ‘We don't care what you say. We will continue to do what we want. We will do the evil our stubborn hearts want.'"

But my people have forgotten me. They burn offerings to worthless idols. They have left the right way that their ancestors followed, and they stumble on the path they have chosen. Instead of staying on the good road I showed them, they prefer to walk on bumpy paths.

I have done only good to them. It is not right for them to pay me back with evil. But they are preparing a death trap for me! Remember that I prayed to you for them. I asked only good for them. I tried to keep you from punishing them in anger.

Now people call this place Topheth and the Valley of Hinnom. But I give you this warning. This message is from the Lord : The days are coming, when people will call this place the Valley of Slaughter.

The people of Jerusalem worked hard to build things and become wealthy, but I will give all these things to their enemies. The king in Jerusalem has many treasures, but I will give all the treasures to the enemy. The enemy will take them and carry them away to the country of Babylon.

And, Pashhur, you and all the people living in your house will be taken away. You will be forced to go and live in the country of Babylon. You will die in Babylon, and you will be buried in that foreign country. You told lies to your friends. You said these things would not happen. But all your friends will also die and be buried in Babylon.'"

Every time I speak, I shout. I am always shouting about violence and destruction. I tell the people about the message that I received from the Lord . But they only insult me and make fun of me.

Sometimes I say to myself, "I will forget about him. I will not speak anymore in his name." But when I say that, his message is like a fire burning inside me! It feels like it is burning deep in my bones! I get tired of trying to hold his message inside. And finally, I am not able to hold it in.

But the Lord is with me. He is like a strong soldier. So those who are chasing me will fall. They will not defeat me. They will fail. They will be disappointed. They will be ashamed, and they will never forget that shame.

‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: You have weapons of war in your hands that you are using to defend yourselves from the Babylonians and their king. But I will make those weapons worthless. "‘The army from Babylon is outside the wall all around the city. Soon I will bring that army into Jerusalem.

Anyone who stays in Jerusalem will die in war or from hunger or disease. But anyone who goes out of Jerusalem and surrenders to the Babylonians attacking you will live. Only those who leave the city will win anything in this war—their lives!

But I, the Lord , tell you that if you don't obey these commands, then I promise with an oath in my own name that this king's palace will be destroyed—it will become a pile of rocks.'"

This is what the Lord says about the palace where the king of Judah lives: "The palace is tall like the forests of Gilead, like the mountains of Lebanon. But I will make it like a desert, as empty as a city where no one lives.

Don't cry for the king who has died. Don't cry for him. But cry very hard for the king who must leave this place. Cry for him because he will never return or see his homeland again.

"Judah, you felt safe, but I warned you. I warned you, but you refused to listen. You have lived like this from the time you were young. And from the time you were young, you have not obeyed me, Judah.

Judah, the punishment I give will come like a storm, and it will blow all your shepherds away. You thought some of the other nations would help you. But these nations will also be defeated. Then you will really be disappointed. You will be ashamed of all the evil things you did.

"King, you seem so safe in your palace of cedar. It's as if you live in Lebanon! But when your punishment comes, you will groan. You will be in pain like a woman giving birth!"

Jehoiachin, you will want to come back to your land, but you will never be allowed to come back."

They are responsible for my people. And this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says to them: "You shepherds have made my sheep run away in all directions. You have forced them to go away, and you have not taken care of them. But I will take care of you—I will punish you for the evil things you did." This message is from the Lord :