Study Desk

Israel, you are unfaithful, but don't lead Judah to sin. Stop worshiping at Gilgal or at sinful Bethel. And quit making promises in my name— the name of the living Lord .

The Lord said: Listen, you priests! Pay attention, Israel! Listen, you members of the royal family. Justice was your duty. But at Mizpah and Mount Tabor you trapped the people.

You offer sheep and cattle as sacrifices to me, but I have turned away and refuse to be found.

When Israel and Judah saw their sickness and wounds, Israel asked help from Assyria and its mighty king. But the king cannot cure them or heal their wounds.

Let's return to the Lord . He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well.

and to heal its wounds. But then I see the crimes in Israel and Samaria. Everyone is deceitful; robbers roam the streets.

I am the Lord , their God, but in all of their troubles their pride keeps them from returning to me.

But I will catch them in a net as hunters trap birds; I threatened to punish them, and indeed I will.

Trouble and destruction will be their reward for rejecting me. I would have rescued them, but they told me lies.

But your enemies will chase you for rejecting our good agreement.

Someone from Israel built that idol for you, but only I am God. And so it will be smashed to pieces.

You can bargain with nations, but I'll catch you anyway. Soon you will suffer abuse by kings and rulers.

Israel, you have built many altars where you offer sacrifices for sin. But these altars have become places for sin.

My instructions for sacrifices were written in detail, but you ignored them.

You sacrifice your best animals and eat the sacrificial meals, but I, the Lord , refuse your offerings. I will remember your sins and punish you. Then you will return to Egypt.

Israel, I created you, but you forgot me. You and Judah built palaces and many strong cities. Now I will send fire to destroy your towns and fortresses.

But you will run short of grain and wine,

Israel, the Lord sent me to look after you. But you trap his prophets and flood his temple with your hatred.

You are brutal and corrupt, as were the men of Gibeah. But God remembers your sin, and you will be punished.

You were a healthy vine covered with grapes. But the more grapes you grew, the more altars you built; the better off you became, the better shrines you set up for pagan gods.