Study Desk

The living, the living, they thank you, as I do this day; fathers make known to children your faithfulness.

Thus says the Lord , the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands?

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children"—

both these things shall come upon you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.

The children born in the time of your bereavement will yet say in your hearing: "The place is too crowded for me; make room for me to settle."

But thus says the Lord : Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued; for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

There is no one to guide her among all the children she has borne; there is no one to take her by the hand among all the children she has brought up.

Your children have fainted, they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of the Lord , the rebuke of your God.

Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord .

All your children shall be taught by the Lord , and great shall be the prosperity of your children.

But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.

Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit—

you that burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; you that slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord : my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord , from now on and forever.

For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.

For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely"; and he became their savior

They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord — and their descendants as well.

Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor she delivered her children.

Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord , and I accuse your children's children.

In vain I have struck down your children; they accepted no correction. Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.