Study Desk

Its judges take money to decide who wins in court. Its priests only teach for pay, and its prophets only look into the future when they get paid. But they lean on the Lord and say, "The Lord is here with us, so nothing bad will happen to us."

Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , to the Temple of the God of Jacob, so that he can teach us his ways, and we can obey his teachings." His teachings will go out from Jerusalem, the word of the Lord from that city.

Now, why do you cry so loudly? Is your king gone? Have you lost your helper, so that you are in pain, like a woman trying to give birth?

So, strong city, gather your soldiers together, because we are surrounded and attacked. They will hit the leader of Israel in the face with a club.

So you will raise your fist in victory over your enemies, and all your enemies will be destroyed.

I will take away the magic charms you use so you will have no more fortune-tellers.

I will destroy your statues of gods and the stone pillars you worship so that you will no longer worship what your hands have made.

My people, remember the evil plans of Balak king of Moab and what Balaam son of Beor told Balak. Remember what happened from Acacia to Gilgal so that you will know the Lord does what is right!"

The voice of the Lord calls to the city, and the wise person honors him. So pay attention to the rod of punishment; pay attention to the One who threatens to punish.

This is because you obey the laws of King Omri and do all the things that Ahab's family does; you follow their advice. So I will let you be destroyed. The people in your city will be laughed at, and other nations will make fun of you.

I sinned against the Lord , so he was angry with me, but he will defend my case in court. He will bring about what is right for me. Then he will bring me out into the light, and I will see him set things right.

So shepherd your people with your stick; tend the flock of people who belong to you. That flock now lives alone in the forest in the middle of a garden land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago.

How terrible it will be for the city that has killed so many. It is full of lies and goods stolen from other countries. It is always killing somebody.

So the teachings are weak, and justice never comes. Evil people gain while good people lose; the judges no longer make fair decisions.

Your eyes are too good to look at evil; you cannot stand to see those who do wrong. So how can you put up with those evil people? How can you be quiet when the wicked swallow up people who are better than they are?

The enemy brings them in with hooks. He catches them in his net and drags them in his fishnet. So he rejoices and sings for joy.

The Lord answered me: "Write down the vision; write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others.

"How terrible for the nation that makes its neighbors drink, pouring from the jug of wine until they are drunk so that it can look at their naked bodies.

The Lord God is my strength. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so I can walk on the steep mountains. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

How terrible it will be for you who live by the Mediterranean Sea, you Philistines! The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines. "I will destroy you so that no one will be left."