Study Desk

What a bad day it will be! The day of the Lord is near, when the All-powerful God will come to destroy.

Do you see how our food has been taken from us? Has not happiness and joy been cut off from the house of our God?

Tear your heart and not your clothes." Return to the Lord your God, for He is full of loving-kindness and loving-pity. He is slow to anger, full of love, and ready to keep His punishment from you.

It may be that He will turn and have pity, and leave good behind for you. He may leave you a grain gift and a drink gift for the Lord your God.

Let the religious leaders who serve the Lord cry between the porch and the altar. Let them say, "Have pity on Your people, O Lord. Do not put your people to shame. And do not make the nations speak against them. Why should the people of the nations say, ‘Where is their God?'"

Be glad, O sons of Zion. Be happy in the Lord your God. For He has given the early rain to help you. He has poured down much rain for you, both fall and spring rains, as before.

You will have much to eat and be filled. And you will praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has done wonderful things for you. Then My people will never be put to shame.

You will know that I am in Israel. You will know that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other. And My people will never be put to shame.

"Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, living in Zion My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will never pass through it again.

I will destroy the people from Ashdod and the king from Ashkelon. I will send My power against Ekron, and the rest of the Philistines will die," says the Lord God.

They lie down beside every altar on clothing taken as trust for promises. And in the house of their God they drink the wine which was paid by those who have done wrong.

The lion has made a noise! Who will not be afraid? The Lord God has spoken! Who can keep from speaking His Word?

So the Lord God says, "Those who hate you will gather around the land. They will pull down your strong-places and rob your strong cities."

Hear and speak against the family of Jacob," says the Lord God, the God of All.

As the Lord God is holy, He has promised, "The days are coming when they will take you away with meat hooks. And the last of you will be taken with fish hooks.

Give a thank gift of bread made with yeast. And make your free-will gifts known. For this is what you love to do, O people of Israel," says the Lord God.

"So I will do this to you, O Israel. And because I will do this to you, get ready to meet your God, O Israel."

He is the One Who makes the mountains and the wind. He makes His thoughts known to man. He turns the morning into darkness, and walks on the high places of the earth. The Lord God of All is His name.

For the Lord God says, "The city of Israel that sends out a thousand soldiers will have a hundred left. And the one that sends out a hundred will have ten left."

Look for good and not sin, that you may live. Then the Lord God of All will be with you, just as you have said.