Study Desk

Israel has forgotten their Maker and has built palaces; Judah has built many strong, walled cities. But I will send fire on their cities and destroy their strong buildings."

But the threshing floor and the winepress will not feed the people, and there won't be enough new wine.

"When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. Your ancestors were like finding the first figs on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they began worshiping an idol, and they became as hateful as the thing they worshiped.

But even if the Israelites bring up children, I will take them all away. How terrible it will be for them when I go away from them!

I have seen Israel, like Tyre, given a pleasant place. But the people of Israel will soon bring out their children to be killed."

but it will be carried off to Assyria as a gift to the great king. Israel will be disgraced, and the people will be ashamed for not obeying.

"Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah, and the people there have continued sinning. But war will surely overwhelm them in Gibeah, because of the evil they have done there.

But you have plowed evil and harvested trouble; you have eaten the fruit of your lies. Because you have trusted in your own power and your many soldiers,

But when I called the people of Israel, they went away from me. They offered sacrifices to the Baals and burned incense to the idols.

It was I who taught Israel to walk, and I took them by the arms, but they did not understand that I had healed them.

My people have made up their minds to turn away from me. The prophets call them to turn to me, but none of them honors me at all.

"But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again as you used to do on worship days.

But the Israelites made the Lord angry when they killed other people, and they deserve to die for their crimes. The Lord will make them pay for the disgraceful things they have done.

People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim; they were important people in Israel. But they sinned by worshiping Baal, so they must die.

But they still keep on sinning more and more. They make idols of their silver, idols that are cleverly made, the work of a craftsman. Yet the people of Israel say to each other, "Kiss those calf idols and sacrifice to them."

I gave them food, and they became full and satisfied. But then they became too proud and forgot me.

So I gave you a king, but only in anger, and I took him away in my great anger.

The pain of birth will come for him, but he is like a foolish baby who won't come out of its mother's womb.

Israel is doing well among the nations, but the Lord will send a wind from the east, coming from the desert, that will dry up his springs and wells of water. He will destroy from their treasure houses everything of value.

A wise person will know these things, and an understanding person will take them to heart. The Lord 's ways are right. Good people live by following them, but those who turn against God die because of them.