Study Desk

Wise leaders will instruct many of the people. But for a while, some of these leaders will either be killed with swords or burned alive, or else robbed of their possessions and thrown into prison.

Daniel, I now command you to keep the message of this book secret until the end of time, even though many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it.

Then the Lord said, "Hosea, name your son Jezreel, because I will soon punish the descendants of King Jehu of Israel for the murders he committed in Jezreel Valley. I will destroy his kingdom,

Israel and Judah will unite and choose one leader. Then they will take back their land, and this will be a great day for Jezreel.

She said, "My lovers gave me vineyards and fig trees as payment for sex." Now I, the Lord , will ruin her vineyards and fig trees; they will become clumps of weeds eaten by wild animals.

I'll punish her for the days she worshiped Baal and burned incense to him. I'll punish her for the times she forgot about me and wore jewelry and rings to attract her lovers. I, the Lord , have spoken!

So I paid fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of grain for such a woman.

That's why I will punish the people for their deeds, just as I will punish you priests.

You expect wooden idols and other objects of wood to give you advice. Lusting for sex at pagan shrines has made you unfaithful to me, your God.

You offer sacrifices on mountaintops and hills, under oak trees, and wherever good shade is found. Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex.

And so you will be swept away in a whirlwind for sacrificing to idols.

Your evil deeds are the reason you won't return to me, your Lord God. And your constant craving for sex keeps you from knowing me.

Israel was brutally crushed. They got what they deserved for worshiping useless idols.

Then I'll return to my temple until they confess their guilt and worship me, until they are desperate and beg for my help.

People of Israel and Judah, what can I do with you? Your love for me disappears more quickly than mist or dew at sunrise.

I'd rather for you to be faithful and to know me than to offer sacrifices.

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

They don't really pray to me; they just howl in their beds. They have rejected me for Baal and slashed themselves, in the hope that Baal will bless their crops.

and refuse to obey. They are more useless than a crooked arrow. Their leaders will die in war for saying foolish things. Egyptians will laugh at them.

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